TORONTO – In a refreshing twist, doubles matches took the spotlight on Thursday at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers in Toronto.
In a special reunion, Leylah Fernandez and her younger sister Bianca took to the court as doubles partners for the first time since last year’s National Bank Open in Montreal, where they faced an all-Italian duo, Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini, and were defeated in straight sets.
On their home turf this Thursday, the Fernandez sisters squared off against Belgium’s Elise Mertens and Russia’s Diana Shnaider.
Determined to improve upon their previous encounter, Bianca ensured that they came in well-prepared for Thursday’s match.
“(Bianca) was discussing the game strategy with me over lunch, which is quite funny since I hadn’t even played my singles match yet,” Leylah mentioned on Wednesday. “But she was like, ‘Hey, I’ve been analyzing these matches, and we can do this.’ We’re just thrilled to be playing together again… Ultimately, the goal is to enjoy ourselves, share the court once more, and implement our game plan.”
“I know my sister will be aggressive out there, and I plan to be as well. Let’s just hope for some ‘Fernandez sisters frenzy’ out there!”
Regrettably for the sibling tandem, their high hopes for a turnaround were soon dashed, as they succumbed to Mertens and Shnaider with a score of 6-1, 6-2 in a match that lasted just over an hour, extended somewhat by a brief rain delay.
Another highlight of Thursday’s doubles action featured the legendary 46-year-old Venus Williams joining forces with the rising star from the Philippines, 21-year-old Alexandra Eala.
Despite the significant age difference, this duo had already competed together in a preparatory event in Germany ahead of Wimbledon, where they celebrated a win.
Sadly, they couldn’t recreate their earlier success, falling in straight sets to Japan’s Miyu Kato and Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova, 6-4, 6-3, after allowing the opponents too many scoring opportunities.
Nevertheless, the Toronto audience appreciated their efforts, with warm applause for the iconic Williams and the promising talent of Eala.
“Alex is a phenomenal talent. She’s truly amazing,” Williams praised her younger partner. “Apart from her tennis skills, she’s a wonderful individual, articulate, and just an impressive young lady. I enjoy being around people like that. We elevate each other.”
In other matches on Thursday, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka breezed into the Round of 16 with a commanding 6-3, 6-4 victory over China’s Shuai Zhang. She will next face Ekaterina Alexandrova, who triumphed over Talia Gibson 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 earlier that day.
“I’m pleased with the level of play, glad to win in straight sets, and relieved that the rain didn’t interfere with our match,” Sabalenka expressed after her victory. “So, I’m really happy to move forward.”
Additionally, in doubles play, Alexandrova and her Canadian partner Gabriela Dabrowski faced off against the American duo of Coco Gauff and Caty McNally, narrowly losing 3-6, 6-3, 11-9 in one of the more thrilling encounters of the tournament.
“I thought the crowd was amazing,” Dabrowski reflected. “It was fantastic to play in front of a packed audience. It was a joy to compete while having the crowd cheer for McCoco too. That perfectly embodies our Canadian spirit.”
“It was a thrilling match, and the pace on that court was electrifying. I hope fans enjoyed it.”
Dabrowski made a late partnership with Alexandrova and had little time to practice beforehand, yet they showcased commendable teamwork during Thursday’s match.
“I didn’t have strong expectations regarding results,” Dabrowski noted. “Winning matches would be delightful, but if we don’t, that’s alright; I’m grateful for the chance to be in Toronto, reconnect with friends, practice, and improve.”
“So, yes, losing today is disappointing, but I’ll still stick around for practice, physiotherapy, or catching some matches. While I can’t compete again for the fans, I genuinely enjoyed my time here. With no expectations, I’m not too let down.”
