In the National Bank Open women’s tennis tournament, Canada’s Leylah Fernandez advanced to the Round of 16 alongside breakout star Alex Eala, while headliners Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, and Iga Swiatek remained in contention. Tournament director Karl Hale expressed optimism about the event’s growth and the increasing popularity of tennis in Canada. The absence of 2025 champion Victoria Mboko due to injury led to additional wild-card entries for Canadian players, with only two progressing to the second round.
Fernandez, seeded 30th, secured a spot in the third round by defeating Mirra Andreeva and is set to face Naomi Osaka next. Eala, a rising star from the Philippines, also advanced to the Round of 16 and will compete against Belinda Bencic. Swiatek from Poland secured a quarterfinal berth with a victory over Marta Kostyuk and will face Diana Shnaider next.
Notable upsets included Aryna Sabalenka’s loss to Ekaterina Alexandrova and Elina Svitolina’s win over Amanda Anisimova. Despite weather interruptions and court damage, the competition continued with intense matches. Media coverage at the tournament was thinner this year, with some major outlets no longer providing staff.
In the men’s singles event, Rafael Jodar from Spain defeated Jiri Lehecka in a dominant performance, advancing to the quarterfinals. Jodar’s impressive run has garnered support from fans, with chants of “Let’s go Rafa!” echoing in the stands. Luciano Darderi and Brandon Nakashima also secured quarterfinal berths with notable victories. Amidst the high-level competition, the Canadian doubles team of Duncan Chan and Alexis Galarneau remains in contention.
The National Bank Open will continue through Thursday, with exciting matches and talented players vying for victory.