Canadian hopes were shattered on Sunday at the National Bank Open as Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Quebec, fell to Japan’s Naomi Osaka in a 6-4, 6-4 defeat at Sobeys Stadium. Fernandez, seeded 30th, faced a tough battle against the 11th-seeded Osaka, who clinched the victory with her sixth ace after one hour and 22 minutes of play.
Fernandez, who had caused an upset by defeating the fifth-seeded Mirra Andreeva in the previous round, expressed her disappointment at the outcome, citing small mistakes that accumulated during the match. Despite the support from the near-capacity crowd chanting “Let’s Go, Leylah!” intermittently, Fernandez struggled to match Osaka’s strong serve and consistent play.
In another match, Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic dominated Alexandra Eala, ending the breakout star’s run from the Philippines with a 6-4, 6-0 victory. Eala, fresh off her first WTA crown in Washington, saw her seven-match win streak come to an end at the tournament.
Meanwhile, in the men’s singles draw, American Ben Shelton showcased his prowess by defeating Brazilian Joao Fonseca 6-3, 7-6 (3) at IGA Stadium. Shelton, the fifth seed, fought back from early setbacks in both sets, utilizing his powerful serves and strategic play to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
Shelton, who won his first Masters 1000 title last year, is set to face Jakub Mensik of Czechia in the next round. Mensik, 20, advanced by defeating Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands 6-4, 7-5 on Sunday night.
The National Bank Open witnessed several young players making their mark, with Learner Tien of the U.S. and Daniel Merida Aguilar of Spain also advancing to the quarterfinals. The tournament experienced notable withdrawals, including top-ranked players like Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic, paving the way for emerging talents like Shelton to seize the spotlight.