TORONTO — Canada’s final beacon at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers has infused tennis enthusiasts across the nation with a surge of hope.
Leylah Fernandez — the lone Canadian remaining in both the women’s and men’s singles draws in Toronto and Montreal — achieved her inaugural victory over a top-10 player in 2026, overcoming world No. 5 Mirra Andreeva in straight sets (6-1, 6-4) during a thrilling match at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto.
Ranked 34th globally and 30th in the NBO, Fernandez displayed moments of sheer dominance against the 2026 French Open champion. Even as the 19-year-old Andreeva began to rally late in the second set, Fernandez summoned her resilience and stayed focused.
Now, she’s headed to the Round of 16 at the NBO, where she will face off against Japan’s Naomi Osaka, the tournament’s No. 11 seed.
“It feels incredible, especially to achieve this at home in front of such an enthusiastic crowd,” Fernandez exclaimed on Centre Court right after her victory.
Her beaming smile lingered even 90 minutes post-match when she addressed the media, all while indulging in a delightful ice cream on a stick — a tradition she has embraced in Toronto. The 23-year-old revealed that the icy treat has become a cherished superstition, adding, “But honestly, the ice cream is fantastic, so I can’t resist.”
After dispatching Mexican Renata Zarazua to start her NBO journey on Wednesday, Fernandez could be heard voicing her excitement throughout well-played points against Andreeva. She secured a break in the fourth game of the first set to jump ahead 3-1, cementing her control by breaking Andreeva’s serve once more for a commanding 5-1 lead.
“I anticipated it would be a tough match,” she acknowledged. “Staying positive, strong, and patient was crucial for me.”
Fernandez was clearly in a great mental and physical spot as the second set began, breaking Andreeva’s serve twice within the first four games to surge ahead 4-0. By this time, she had won an impressive nine consecutive games and appeared ready to coast to victory.
Andreeva, however, began regrouping — rediscovering her powerful strokes when urgency set in. She held serve in the fifth game and then broke Fernandez to narrow the score to 4-2. As Andreeva grabbed another game to make it 4-3, an air of tension enveloped the home crowd.
“I knew it wouldn’t be an easy road; we expected that,” Fernandez reflected on the momentum shift. “Mirra is a fighter. She’s top-five for a reason and has a Grand Slam title to her credit. She wasn’t going to merely hand the match over to me. For me, [the key] was to keep believing in myself during that moment and drawing on the energy from my team to stay focused and keep executing.”
As she served for the match, Fernandez gathered her composure, quickly jumping to a 40-15 lead when Andreeva misfired her forehand again. On double match point, Andreeva sent a forehand into the net, prompting Fernandez to celebrate with a triumphant fist pump before blowing kisses to her supporters.
“This victory means a lot, especially knowing how hard I’ve trained,” she reflected on a win that improved her record to 15-20 in 2026. “I often play well in practice sets, but translating that into matches is a different challenge. I’m just thrilled that I was able to trust myself and implement what I’ve been training.”
Fernandez’s performance was impressive, with 89 percent of her first-serve points won. As the sole Canadian left in the tournament, following last year’s astonishing victory by injured Vicky Mboko, the left-handed Fernandez is stepping up and channeling the added attention into motivation for her journey ahead.
“Knowing I’m the last Canadian standing carries a bit of pressure, but it also fuels my motivation and gives me reasons to persist on my path,” she stated. “It excites me greatly. Although nerves can be daunting, they signify that I care. It’s a feeling I truly cherish.”
Just like that first bite of celebratory ice cream.
