After a slow start, the National Bank Open women’s tennis tournament saw positive developments. Leylah Fernandez from Canada advanced to the Round of 16, while breakout star Alex Eala continued to impress. Key players like Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, and Iga Swiatek remained in the competition, boosting excitement.
Tournament director Karl Hale expressed satisfaction with the event’s progress, anticipating further growth for tennis in Canada. The absence of Victoria Mboko, the 2025 champion, due to injury was a setback. To compensate for the loss of local star power, Tennis Canada granted wild-card entries to Bianca Andreescu and six other Canadians, with only two players progressing beyond the second round.
Despite the early exits of Canadian players, the tournament boasted a strong lineup, including nine of the top 10 singles players globally. Fernandez, seeded 30th, advanced to face Naomi Osaka after an impressive upset win. Meanwhile, Eala’s captivating performances drew attention, with a loyal Filipino fan base supporting her journey to the Round of 16.
In other matches, Swiatek secured a quarterfinal spot with a hard-fought victory, setting up a match against Diana Shnaider. Upsets continued as top-seed Aryna Sabalenka fell to Ekaterina Alexandrova. The competition faced weather challenges with rain affecting schedules, and media coverage was notably reduced compared to previous years.
In the men’s singles at the National Bank Open in Montreal, Rafael Jodar from Spain delivered a dominant performance, defeating Jiri Lehecka. Jodar’s remarkable run continued, earning praise from fans and maintaining focus on personal development rather than rankings. Other players like Luciano Darderi and Brandon Nakashima also secured quarterfinal berths after intense matches.
As the tournament progresses, excitement builds with notable matchups and unexpected outcomes shaping the competition.