Leylah Fernandez Shines as Lone Canadian Hope at National Bank Open

What’s Happening at the National Bank Open?

The National Bank Open is a huge professional tennis tournament happening right now in Canada. It has two parts:

• WTA Tour (women’s) in Toronto — a WTA 1000 event (one of the biggest tournaments of the year)
• ATP Tour (men’s) in Montreal — a Masters 1000 event (also one of the biggest)

The tournament runs until Thursday with $7.43 million USD in prize money.

KEY POINT: This is like the "Super Bowl" of Canadian tennis — the biggest tournament on home soil each year.

The Canadian Storyline: Leylah Fernandez Steps Up

Why This Matters

• Victoria Mboko (Canada’s rising star) had to pull out before the tournament started due to a knee injury — she was the defending champion!
• Five Canadian women got "wild cards" (special invites) but all lost in the first round
• Two more Canadians lost in the second round
• All Canadian doubles teams lost quickly

Leylah Fernandez to the Rescue!

Leylah Fernandez (from Laval, Quebec) is now the only Canadian left in singles or doubles.

IMPORTANT: This was Fernandez’s first win over a top-10 player this season and only her 2nd ever in 5 tries (now 1–4 career vs top 10).

How She Won

1. Controlled the match from the start on a muggy, overcast day
2. Broke Andreeva early (4th game) when Andreeva missed a return
3. Stayed aggressive and used the crowd energy
4. Closed it out in 80 minutes even after Andreeva fought back from 2–5 to 4–5 in set 2

What Fernandez Said

"I’ve put in the work. I know physically I am strong. I know I can endure long rallies and long matches. So, if it’s going to take 100 balls to hit, to put it in, to break her down, then so be it."

"Hearing that I’m the lone Canadian [left], of course there’s a little bit of pressure. But also, a lot more motivation and reasons to keep going on the path that I am on."

What’s Next for Fernandez?

Round of 16 matchup: vs Naomi Osaka (Japan, 11th seed)

• Osaka crushed Elise Mertens 6–1, 6–2
• This will be a blockbuster match — two former US Open finalists!

Other Big Women’s Results (Friday)

NOTE: Rybakina saved two set points to win. Gauff needed only 1 hour 16 minutes.

Canadian Doubles Disappointment

All five Canadian doubles teams lost quickly:

• Fernandez sisters (Leylah + Bianca) — lost opening match
• Gabriela Dabrowski (world #3 in doubles!) — lost with last-minute partner Ekaterina Alexandrova
• Kayla Cross + Bianca Andreescu — lost Friday 6–4, 7–6(3)

Men’s Side: Ben Shelton Defends His Title

Shelton Cruises in Montreal

Ben Shelton (USA, #5 seed, world #10) won his maiden Masters 1000 title here last year (in Toronto — the men’s/women’s cities switch each year).

Why Shelton’s Run Is Special

• Highest-ranked player left in the draw
• Only 12 of 32 seeds remain — upsets everywhere!
• Only 3 of the top 10 seeds still alive
• First time in 2026 reaching Round of 16 at a Masters 1000 (had failed to win back-to-back matches at these big events all year)

How He Won

1. Held serve easily early
2. Broke Bergs in game 6 of set 1 → led 4–2 → closed 6–3
3. Broke again in game 5 of set 2 (helped by Bergs’ 3rd double fault)
4. Broke a 2nd time in set 2 → served out match

Next Up for Shelton

Round of 16 (Sunday) vs winner of:

• Casper Ruud (Norway, #9 seed) vs João Fonseca (Brazil, 19 years old, rising star)

Tallon Griekspoor: Giant Killer Continues

Tallon Griekspoor (Netherlands) is on a magical run:

1. Beat #1 seed Alexander Zverev in Round 2 (huge upset!)
2. Beat Matteo Arnaldi (2024 semifinalist here, #30 seed) 3–6, 6–4, 6–3
3. 5th career Masters 1000 Round of 16 (1st this season)

Next opponent: Daniel Mérida (Spain, 21)

• Mérida beat Alex Michelsen 6–4, 6–7(4), 6–1
• 9 of last 10 matches won since Wimbledon
• First Masters 1000 Round of 16 ever
• Just cracked ATP Top 50 for first time!

Other Notable Men’s Matches (Friday/Weekend)

Summary: Key Takeaways

1. Leylah Fernandez is the last Canadian standing — beat #5 seed Andreeva for her best win of the year
2. Fernandez vs Osaka in Round of 16 = must-watch match
3. Ben Shelton defending title, looks sharp, hasn’t dropped a set
4. Massive upsets on men’s side — only 12 seeds left, 3 top-10 players
5. Tallon Griekspoor beat #1 seed Zverev, now in Round of 16 again
6. Daniel Mérida (Spain) breaking into Top 50 with career-best run
7. Tournament runs until Thursday in both cities

FAQ: Your Questions Answered

1. What’s the difference between WTA 1000 and Masters 1000?

They’re the same level — just different names for women’s (WTA) and men’s (ATP) tours. Both are the 2nd highest tier after Grand Slams (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open).

2. Why do the men’s and women’s tournaments switch cities?

Toronto and Montreal alternate each year. One year men play in Toronto/women in Montreal, next year they swap. This year: women in Toronto, men in Montreal.

3. What’s a "wild card"?

A special invitation given to players who aren’t ranked high enough to qualify automatically. Usually given to local players, young prospects, or former stars. All 5 Canadian women who got wild cards lost in Round 1.

4. Who is Mirra Andreeva and why was beating her a big deal?

19-year-old Russian superstar — already won 3 WTA titles THIS YEAR, ranked #5 in the world. Fernandez had lost 3 of 4 previous matches vs her. This was a major statement win.

5. How can I watch the rest of the tournament?

Check TSN, Sportsnet, or Tennis Channel (Canada/US) for live coverage. Matches run daily until Thursday’s finals.

Final Thought: What started as a quiet tournament for Canadian fans has turned into a Leylah Fernandez redemption story — and on the men’s side, a wide-open draw where anyone could win. Grab some popcorn and enjoy the rest of the week!