Canadian tennis hopes were shattered on Sunday at the National Bank Open. The excitement surrounding Eala-Mania had dwindled as Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Quebec, fell to Japan’s Naomi Osaka in the fourth round at Sobeys Stadium. Following that, Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic secured a victory over Alexandra Eala from the Philippines, ending the breakout star’s impressive run.
Despite being the 30th seed, Fernandez lost in straight sets to the 11th-seeded Osaka, who displayed a strong performance with six aces to seal the win in just over an hour. Fernandez acknowledged that small errors throughout the match made the difference, leading to her defeat.
Fernandez had previously caused an upset by defeating the fifth-seeded Mirra Andreeva to advance to the Round of 16. However, other Canadian players, including former champion Bianca Andreescu, were eliminated in the early rounds, along with the Canadian doubles entries.
The crowd at the center court tried to rally behind Fernandez, chanting “Let’s Go, Leylah!” at intervals. Both players relied on their ground strokes, with Osaka’s serve and consistency proving to be decisive factors. Fernandez admitted to missed opportunities and errors that cost her crucial points.
Osaka’s victory marked her first appearance in a WTA 1000 quarterfinal since the previous year. Meanwhile, Eala, fresh from her first WTA title in Washington, saw her seven-match winning streak come to an end after an impressive showing throughout the week.
In the men’s singles draw, American Ben Shelton continued his quest to defend his National Bank Open title by defeating Brazilian Joao Fonseca. Shelton’s strong serving and resilience helped him secure a straight-set victory, setting up a quarterfinal clash against Jakub Mensik of Czechia.
Shelton, the highest-ranked player remaining in the tournament, showcased his dominance on the court, while Fonseca acknowledged his shortcomings in the match. The tournament saw several young talents making strides, with Learner Tien and Daniel Merida Aguilar advancing to the quarterfinals.
The absence of top seeds like Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic, coupled with early exits of other favorites, has opened up opportunities for emerging players like Shelton to make their mark. As the competition intensifies, the focus shifts to the rising stars aiming to shine on the grand stage of the National Bank Open.
