Things took a positive turn following a rough start at the National Bank Open women’s tennis tournament. Leylah Fernandez from Canada secured a spot in the Round of 16. The excitement around breakout star Alex Eala, also known as “Eala-Mania,” intensified with her latest win. Notable players like Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, and Iga Swiatek remained in contention, adding to the tournament’s appeal.
Tournament director Karl Hale expressed satisfaction with the current state of affairs, optimistic about the event’s growth and the increasing popularity of tennis in Canada. The tournament faced a setback when Victoria Mboko, the 2025 champion from Burlington, Ont., withdrew due to a knee injury. However, Tennis Canada granted wild-card entries to Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 champion, and six other Canadian players, although only two managed to progress beyond the second round.
Fernandez, seeded 30th and a finalist in the 2021 U.S. Open, pulled off an upset against Mirra Andreeva, setting up a clash with Naomi Osaka in the next round. Meanwhile, Eala, the charismatic rising star from the Philippines, entertained the crowd with her performance, advancing to the Round of 16 to face Belinda Bencic from Switzerland.
In other matches, Swiatek secured a spot in the quarterfinals after defeating Marta Kostyuk. Upsets unfolded as Aryna Sabalenka fell to Ekaterina Alexandrova, who will now face Elina Svitolina. The event faced challenges with heavy rain affecting play, causing delays and court damage.
The media presence at the tournament was noticeably reduced compared to previous years, with fewer journalists covering the event. Despite these challenges, the competition continued with exciting matchups and unexpected outcomes.
In the men’s singles at the National Bank Open in Montreal, Rafael Jodar from Spain delivered a dominant performance, defeating Jiri Lehecka with clinical serving and strategic play. Jodar expressed humility and focus on self-improvement rather than his rising rankings. The tournament also saw other players like Luciano Darderi and Brandon Nakashima securing victories and advancing to the quarterfinals.
While Canadian representation in the men’s singles dwindled, the all-Canadian doubles team of Duncan Chan and Alexis Galarneau made a statement by defeating the eighth-seeded pair, Herbert and Krawietz. The competition is set to continue with more exciting matches and potential upsets in store.