The National Bank Open women’s tennis tournament saw an improvement following a challenging start. Leylah Fernandez of Canada advanced to the Round of 16, boosting excitement among fans. Noteworthy players like Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, and Iga Swiatek remained in contention, adding to the tournament’s allure.
Tournament director Karl Hale expressed satisfaction with the event’s progress, foreseeing continued growth in both the tournament and tennis popularity in Canada. Despite the withdrawal of 2025 champion Victoria Mboko due to injury, wild-card entries were given to Bianca Andreescu and six other Canadians. However, only Kayla Cross and Katherine Sebov made it to the second round and were eliminated.
The 30th-seeded Fernandez, fresh from reaching the 2021 U.S. Open final, secured a spot in the Round of 16 after defeating Mirra Andreeva. Rising star Alex Eala from the Philippines also advanced to the next round, facing Belinda Bencic next.
In other matches, Swiatek of Poland secured a quarterfinal berth with a hard-fought victory over Marta Kostyuk. Upsets continued as top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka fell to Ekaterina Alexandrova. Media presence at the tournament was noted to be lower this year, with some major outlets absent.
On the men’s side in Montreal, Rafael Jodar triumphed over Jiri Lehecka, showcasing his skills and composure. Jodar’s impressive performance has garnered support from fans, propelling him to the quarterfinals. Luciano Darderi and Brandon Nakashima also advanced to the next round after intense battles.
As the competition progresses, tennis enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the upcoming matches and further developments in both singles and doubles events.