TORONTO — In a thrilling comeback for Canada, Leylah Fernandez clinched a vital victory on Wednesday night, navigating a challenging 48-hour period for the nation’s tennis scene.
Shortly afterward, rising Filipino talent Alexandra Eala provided a wave of excitement for National Bank Open presented by Rogers organizers, adding to the celebratory atmosphere.
The 30th-seeded Fernandez, hailing from Laval, Quebec, triumphed over Mexico’s Renata Zarazua with a commanding score of 6-2, 6-2 in a second-round duel on Centre Court. Eala, the 20th seed, thrilled a roaring packed crowd with her own victory, battling through to defeat Alycia Parks from the U.S. in a score of 6-1, 4-6, 6-2. The strong turnout of the city’s vibrant Filipino community helped sell out the session within hours of the announcement.
Fernandez, who shares her Filipino-Canadian heritage through her mother, entered the match as the last Canadian standing in the singles draws. Having received a bye in the opening round like all seeds, she was determined to make her mark on the tournament.
“I was aware that I was the final Canadian in the draw. My dad mentioned it just before I headed onto the court,” Fernandez shared with reporters, savoring a chocolate ice cream bar during her post-match interview.
“This kind of ignited a fire within me, as I’ve always believed we have many talented young Canadian tennis players. I want to inspire them to continue pushing forward and believing in themselves.”
Earlier in the day, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Canada’s top male contender, had to withdraw from the men’s NBO in Montreal due to a back injury. Additionally, Denis Shapovalov and Gabriel Diallo both retired from their matches earlier this week, also due to injuries.
Furthermore, defending women’s champion Victoria Mboko had to drop out due to a knee injury, which also hindered her from competing in Wimbledon and has now ruled her out for the upcoming US Open.
With 13 other Canadians eliminated from the tournament, Fernandez stepped up to the occasion. She delivered a dominant performance, recording 17 winners and converting five of her six break points. Following the match, she captured the lively atmosphere with a video on her phone, cheered on by the jubilant crowd.
This win marked a stark contrast from last year’s Montreal experience, where she lost her first match on a Tuesday afternoon shortly after winning the DC Open title. Fernandez had been emotional after a 6-4, 6-1 defeat and had voiced her disappointment with the tournament’s scheduling.
“At the end of the match, I finally looked up, and that was the first time I absorbed the crowd’s energy,” Fernandez reflected. “I wanted to capture the moment because it felt incredibly special.”
“This year hasn’t been easy, but we always talk about resetting and refocusing; each week is a fresh start.”
Despite struggling with a 13-20 record before Wednesday and facing first-round exits at all three Grand Slams so far, Fernandez dominated the 73rd-ranked Zarazua. Leading up to this North American swing, she welcomed Eric Hechtman, a former coach of Venus and Serena Williams, to her team after years of working primarily with her father, Jorge.
Ranked No. 34 in the world, Fernandez is set to take on No. 5 seed Mirra Andreeva in her next match on Friday. The 19-year-old Russian, fresh off a French Open victory, previously defeated Fernandez in straight sets at a clay-court event in Madrid.
“Facing Leylah will surely be challenging,” Andreeva commented after her impressive 6-2, 6-0 victory over Karolina Pliskova. “Playing at home, the crowd will undoubtedly rally behind her, making it even tougher. She’s a fantastic player, and our last encounter was quite intense. I’m anticipating a thrilling match for the audience, and it will be a tough contest for both of us.”
Another exciting Eala-Fernandez doubleheader is highly anticipated for Friday night.
Eala, 21, recently celebrated a hard-fought three-set victory over Jessica Pegula in the DC Open final, which resumed on Monday after rain interrupted gameplay. She proudly stands as the first Filipino to capture a WTA Tour title.
“Stepping onto the court felt so familiar with all the support around me,” Eala shared, noting the overwhelming cheers were nearly on par with the excitement she experienced in Dubai earlier this year. “I hope fans enjoyed the tennis and the atmosphere, and I want them to come back for more.”
The momentum surrounding Eala has been building steadily, with enthusiastic crowds backing her at every event.
“The Filipino community is incredibly proud of anyone representing the country. I’ve definitely sensed that pride since I entered the scene,” Fernandez mentioned, recalling her recent match against Eala in the Round of 16 in Washington. “The fan base is absolutely amazing and filled with love. No matter where you are in the world, you’ll see the Filipino flags waving, supporting both my matches and Eala’s.”
Among the top seeds in the tournament, only one has exited: 6th seed Linda Noskova, competing for the first time since her Wimbledon win, recently lost to Caty McNally with a score of 7-6 (5), 6-1.
No. 2 seed Elena Rybakina and No. 3 seed Pegula both advanced through tough three-set matches on Wednesday, securing their places in the next round.
On Thursday night, Eala will take the Centre Court alongside Venus Williams for a doubles showdown.
