Canadian aspirations were thwarted on Sunday at the National Bank Open, putting an end to the excitement surrounding Eala-Mania. Leylah Fernandez from Laval, Quebec, was defeated 6-4, 6-4 by Japan’s Naomi Osaka in the fourth round at Sobeys Stadium. Following this, Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic sealed a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Alexandra Eala, halting the impressive run of the rising star from the Philippines.
Fernandez, seeded 30th, faced crucial breaks at 3-3 in both sets. Osaka, seeded 11th, clinched the match with her sixth ace, wrapping up the win in one hour and 22 minutes. Fernandez expressed that minor decisions played a pivotal role in the outcome, affecting the match’s trajectory until the end.
Previously, Fernandez caused an upset by defeating the fifth-seeded Mirra Andreeva of Russia to advance to the Round of 16. Despite seven other Canadian players receiving wild-card entries, including former champion Bianca Andreescu from Mississauga, Ontario, they were all eliminated early in the tournament.
In the doubles draw, all five Canadian pairs suffered defeats in their opening matches. Notably, Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski, ranked world No. 3, partnered with a substitute player due to her regular partner, Luisa Stefani from Brazil, nursing an elbow injury.
The near-capacity crowd at the center court rallied behind Fernandez, with intermittent chants of “Let’s Go, Leylah!” during breaks on a warm and clear evening at York University. Both players engaged in a battle of ground strokes, with Osaka showcasing a strong serve and overall consistency that proved challenging to overcome.
Fernandez’s unforced errors in critical moments of the match, particularly in the seventh game of each set, proved to be costly. Despite having opportunities to capitalize on advantageous situations, Fernandez acknowledged her shortcomings in maintaining ball control and pressure on her opponent.
Osaka’s victory secured her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal appearance since last year’s final at the NBO in Montreal, where she lost to Canada’s Victoria Mboko, who couldn’t defend her title this year due to a knee injury. Reflecting on her experience, Osaka emphasized the importance of staying calm and focusing on each point.
On a different note, Eala, fresh from winning her first WTA crown in Washington, saw her seven-match winning streak end. The 21-year-old captivated audiences throughout the week in her inaugural top-20 player appearance at the tournament.
In other matches, Elena Rybakina from Kazakhstan and Coco Gauff from the United States secured victories to advance to the quarterfinals. Rybakina, seeded second, outlasted Liudmila Samsonova from Russia in a demanding three-set match, while Gauff, seeded fourth, swiftly defeated Russian qualifier Alina Korneeva in straight sets.
Doubles winners included pairs such as Italy’s Sara Errani and American Nicole Melichar-Martinez, Slovakia’s Tereza Mihalikova and Britain’s Olivia Nicholls, and Taiwan’s Su-Wei Hsieh and Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko.
In a separate event, Ben Shelton maintained his focus on the remaining talent in the men’s singles draw at the National Bank Open in Montreal. The American, aiming to defend his title, triumphed over Brazilian Joao Fonseca in the Round of 16, showcasing resilience after early setbacks in both sets.
Shelton’s commanding performance included overpowering serves reaching nearly 230 kilometers per hour and strategic play, leading to a straight-sets victory over Fonseca. The fifth-seeded Shelton, known for his charisma, highlighted the importance of regaining breaks and fighting back in matches.
Fonseca, the 22nd seed, acknowledged his shortcomings in serving and praised Shelton’s performance. Shelton, who clinched his first Masters 1000 title last year, expressed confidence in his form and readiness to face Jakub Mensik from Czechia in the quarterfinals.
The tournament witnessed several young talents making significant strides, with American Learner Tien and Spain’s Daniel Merida Aguilar advancing to the quarterfinals. The momentum of youth players like Tien, Mensik, and others signals a promising future for the sport.
The National Bank Open experienced notable withdrawals and early exits of top seeds, including world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic. Shelton, positioned as a potential future star, remains a formidable contender in the competition, alongside other emerging talents vying for success in the tournament.