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![\"Elena](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/6a78d8f662cfe55e0b74d690jpeg.jpg\")
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tElena Rybakina of Kazakhstan celebrates after defeating Liudmila Samsonova 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, during round of 16 National Bank Open tennis action in Toronto, on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS\/Keito Newman<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was just these small decisions that made the difference and it just mounted over and over until the end of the (match),\u201d Fernandez said.<\/p>\n
Fernandez upset fifth-seeded Mirra Andreeva of Russia to reach the Round of 16.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seven other Canadian players \u2014 including former champion Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ont. \u2014 were given wild-card entries but all were eliminated in the first or second rounds.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The five Canadians entered in the doubles draw all lost their opening matches. Ottawa\u2019s Gabriela Dabrowski, the world No. 3, played with a substitute partner as her usual partner Luisa Stefani of Brazil was nursing an elbow injury.<\/p>\n
The near-capacity crowd on centre court did its best to help lift the 23-year-old Fernandez. Occasional \u201cLet\u2019s Go, Leylah!\u201d chants were heard during breaks on a warm, clear evening at the York University venue.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Both players were content to try to grind the other down with ground strokes. Osaka\u2019s serve was in strong form and her overall consistency proved tough to break down.<\/p>\n
Fernandez made some unforced errors in the seventh game of both sets and they proved costly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the opener, a wide volley was followed by a backcourt slice that found the net, giving the former world No. 1 three break points. Osaka converted on the first attempt when Fernandez pushed a passing shot out of court.<\/p>\n
In the second set, Fernandez netted a backhand volley at 15-30. The Canadian won the next three points and thought she won the game after Osaka barely got her racket on a service return.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fernandez let the ball go thinking it would land out of court, but the rainbow shot caught both lines in the corner. Osaka went on to break serve again on the way to her 25th win this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like I made some mistakes,\u201d Fernandez said. \u201cI feel like I had some opportunities to take advantage of the moment, of being ahead and putting pressure on her, but I didn\u2019t do a good job of keeping the ball in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Osaka\u2019s victory secured her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal appearance since reaching the final at the NBO last year in Montreal. She lost the championship match to Canada\u2019s Victoria Mboko, who was unable to defend her title this year due to a knee injury.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I learned a lot from that,\u201d Osaka said. \u201cI learned to be a lot more calm and just (try) to take it point by point.\u201d<\/p>\n