Canadian hopes were shattered on Sunday at the National Bank Open as Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., suffered a 6-4, 6-4 defeat against Japan’s Naomi Osaka in the fourth round at Sobeys Stadium. Following this, Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic claimed a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Alexandra Eala, ending the impressive run of the emerging star from the Philippines.
Fernandez, seeded 30th, faced crucial breaks at 3-3 in both sets, leading to Osaka’s win with her sixth ace, concluding the match in one hour and 22 minutes. Fernandez, after upsetting the fifth-seeded Mirra Andreeva of Russia, made remarks on the outcome, emphasizing that small decisions played a significant role in the match.
The audience at the center court tried to uplift Fernandez with intermittent “Let’s Go, Leylah!” cheers during breaks on a warm evening at the York University venue. Both players engaged in a strategic battle, focusing on ground strokes, with Osaka showcasing a strong serve and consistent play that proved challenging for Fernandez to counter.
Despite Fernandez’s efforts, some unforced errors in critical moments cost her the game. Osaka’s victory secured her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal appearance since last year when she reached the final at the NBO in Montreal. Meanwhile, Eala, fresh off her recent WTA crown in Washington, saw her seven-match winning streak halted.
In the men’s singles draw, Ben Shelton demonstrated his prowess by overpowering Brazilian Joao Fonseca 6-3, 7-6 (3) to advance to the quarterfinals. Shelton, the reigning National Bank Open champion, navigated through windy conditions, showcasing a dominant performance with his serves. Fonseca acknowledged his shortcomings in the match, crediting Shelton’s strong serving performance.
Shelton, ranked No. 10 in the world, is now the highest-ranked player remaining in the tournament, setting the stage for an exciting quarterfinal clash with Jakub Mensik of Czechia. The competition continues to witness a blend of established stars and emerging talents vying for the prestigious title.