The National Bank Open women’s tennis tournament had a promising turn of events after a shaky start. Leylah Fernandez from Canada secured a spot in the Round of 16, while breakout sensation Alex Eala continued to impress. Notable players like Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, and Iga Swiatek remained in contention, boosting the excitement.

Tournament director Karl Hale expressed delight with the current progress, foreseeing continued growth for the event and the sport in Canada. The tournament faced a setback when 2025 champion Victoria Mboko withdrew due to a knee injury. To compensate for the loss, wild-card entries were granted to Bianca Andreescu and six other Canadians, but only Kayla Cross and Katherine Sebov progressed, though they were eliminated in the second round.

The spotlight shifted to Fernandez, the 30th seed, who clinched a third-round upset victory over Mirra Andreeva. Eala, the emerging star, also garnered attention with a strong performance, advancing to the Round of 16. In a notable match, Swiatek secured a spot in the quarterfinals after defeating Marta Kostyuk.

The tournament faced challenges with rain affecting matches and a reduced media presence compared to previous years. However, the competition continued with Rafael Jodar impressing with a dominant victory over Jiri Lehecka. Jodar’s rise in the rankings has captured global attention, and he looks forward to his upcoming match against Arthur Fils in the quarterfinals.

In the men’s singles draw, Luciano Darderi and Brandon Nakashima also secured quarterfinal berths after impressive wins. With Lehecka’s exit, only one top 10 seed remains in the men’s singles draw. Despite no Canadians left in the men’s singles field, the Canadian doubles team of Duncan Chan and Alexis Galarneau are still in contention, defeating the eighth-seeded pair. The tournament continues through Thursday, promising more thrilling matches and surprises.