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Canada’s Leylah Fernandez celebrates a point against Mexico’s Renata Zarazua at the National Bank Open in Toronto on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS\/Chris Young<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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By Canadian Press on August 5, 2026.<\/p>\n
\t\t\tCanada’s Leylah Fernandez celebrates a point against Mexico’s Renata Zarazua at the National Bank Open in Toronto on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS\/Chris Young<\/p>\n
TORONTO \u2014 Leylah Fernandez knew the stakes before she stepped onto centre court.<\/p>\n
The 23-year-old Canadian had just shared a word with her father \u2014 and co-coach \u2014 ahead of the tennis star\u2019s first match at the National Bank Open.<\/p>\n
Despite having yet to swing a racket in anger at the home-soil event after getting an opening-round bye as the No. 30 seed, Fernandez was already the country\u2019s last hope in both the women\u2019s and men\u2019s singles draw.<\/p>\n
The Laval, Que., product carried that torch in impressive fashion.<\/p>\n
Fernandez fired three aces and connected on five of six break-point opportunities Wednesday to breeze past Mexico\u2019s Renata Zarazua 6-2, 6-2 in front of a partisan crowd at Sobeys Stadium.<\/p>\n
\u201cA little bit nerve-racking,\u201d she said. \u201cBut happy I was able to manage those nerves and enjoy the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
The pressure was also squarely on Fernandez\u2019s shoulders.<\/p>\n
Kayla Cross of London, Ont., was bounced by Ann Li of the United States 7-6 (2), 6-3 earlier in the day. <\/p>\n
Toronto\u2019s Katherine Sebov lost in the second round Tuesday and 2019 winner Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ont., was eliminated Monday in her first match as the red-and-white women\u2019s contingent melted from eight to one in short order.<\/p>\n
Victoria Mboko of Burlington, Ont., who captured last summer\u2019s NBO title at age 18, is sitting out this year\u2019s event because of a knee issue.<\/p>\n
The Canadian men, meanwhile, have been cut down by injuries of their own in Montreal. Dennis Shapovalov and Gabe Diallo retired from their matches Tuesday before No. 2 seed F\u00e9lix Auger-Aliassime withdrew with a back problem Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew that I was the last Canadian standing,\u201d Fernandez said. \u201cI guess that lit a little fire in me. We have a lot young Canadian tennis players who are doing extremely well. And I want to be able to motivate them to keep going and to keep believing.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully, one day Canada\u2019s not only a winter-sport country, but it could also be a summer-sport country.\u201d<\/p>\n
The runner-up at the 2021 U.S. Open currently ranked No. 34 on the WTA Tour, Fernandez secured three break points in the first set, including with Zarazua, the world No. 73, on serve at 5-2.<\/p>\n
Fernandez, whose best NBO showing was a round-of-16 appearance at the 2023 event in Montreal, went up 3-2 with a break in the second before cruising to victory in one hour 23 minutes.<\/p>\n
Fernandez, lost her first-round match last year in Montreal and earned a career-high rank of No. 13 in August 2022, improved to 3-0 against Zarazua all-time and will next face No. 5 Mirra Andreeva.<\/p>\n
Rising star Alexandra Eala of the Philippines defeated Alycia Parks of the U.S. 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 before an electric centre-court crowd accented by a strong showing from her country\u2019s diaspora in the Toronto area.<\/p>\n
Late matches early in the tournament are often sparsely attended. This one was different.<\/p>\n
Filipino flags dotted the stands, while the chair umpire had to ask the crowd for quiet at different moments in what was a party atmosphere at the venue on Toronto\u2019s northern edge.<\/p>\n
Seeded 25th and ranked 20th, Eala became the first Filipino to pick up a WTA win when she bested world No. 3 Jessica Pegula in Monday\u2019s rain-delayed D.C. Open final. <\/p>\n
The 21-year-old will face Caty McNally in the third round after the American provided the day\u2019s biggest upset by defeating No. 6 Linda Noskova.<\/p>\n
Fernandez, who has Filipino heritage on her mother\u2019s side, has got to know Eala on tour and watched her rise.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Filipino community are super proud,\u201d she said of the support. \u201cThey\u2019re proud of anybody who comes from the country \u2026 I definitely felt that when I came onto the scene.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cross fell 7-6 (2), 6-3 to Ann Li of the U.S. after the 21-year-old from London, Ont., shocked the US$7.4-million tournament Monday by upsetting Britain\u2019s Katie Boulter to earn a first tour victory in just her third match.<\/p>\n
Seeded players advancing Wednesday included Andreeva, Pegula, No. 2 Elena Rybakina, No. 4 Coco Gauff, No. 11 Naomi Osaka, No. 12 Belinda Bencic, No. 13 Iva Jovic, No. 20 Elise Mertens and No. 29 Maria Sakkari.<\/p>\n
Apart from McNally\u2019s surprise performance against Noskova, Maya Joint upset No. 14 Sorana Cirstea, Alina Korneeva downed No. 23 Emma Navarro, Taylor Townsend beat No. 21 Marie Bouzkova, and Liudmila Samsonova got past No. 22 Barbora Krejcikova.<\/p>\n
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka won her second-round opener Tuesday night in the four-time Grand Slam winner\u2019s return to action after disappointing results at the French Open and Wimbledon.<\/p>\n
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 5, 2026.<\/p>\n
Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press<\/p>\n
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