Leylah Fernandez secured a victory for Canada on Wednesday night at the National Bank Open, concluding a challenging period for the country’s tennis program. Following her win, Filipino star Alexandra Eala also delivered a strong performance, delighting the Toronto audience.
Fernandez, the 30th seed from Laval, Quebec, defeated Renata Zarazua of Mexico with a score of 6-2, 6-2 on Centre Court in a second-round match. This victory made her the last Canadian player remaining in either the women’s or men’s singles draws before her first match, as she, like all seeded players, received a bye in the opening round. Fernandez acknowledged the pressure, stating that her father reminded her she was the last Canadian standing, which ignited a drive to motivate younger Canadian tennis players.
Hours before Fernandez’s match, Felix Auger-Aliassime withdrew from the men’s NBO in Montreal due to a back injury. On Tuesday, Denis Shapovalov and Gabriel Diallo retired from their matches with injuries. Additionally, defending women’s champion Victoria Mboko had to withdraw because of a knee injury that also kept her out of Wimbledon and the upcoming US Open.
Fernandez’s Performance and Upcoming Match
Despite a difficult year with an overall record of 13-20 heading into Wednesday and first-round exits at all three Grand Slams, Fernandez overcame the 73rd-ranked Zarazua. She had a 17-5 edge in winners and converted five of six break points. After her win, Fernandez recorded a video of the celebratory scene, reflecting on the special moment.
Fernandez has been working with Eric Hechtman, a former coach of Venus and Serena Williams, prior to the North American swing, after primarily being coached by her father, Jorge. The world No. 34 will face a challenge in her next match on Friday against the No. 5 seed, Mirra Andreeva. The 19-year-old Russian won the French Open this year and previously defeated Fernandez in straight sets at a clay-court event in Madrid.
Andreeva anticipates a tough match against Fernandez, noting that playing at home will provide Fernandez with crowd support. She also described their previous encounter as a very challenging match and expects their upcoming game to be entertaining for spectators and difficult for both players.
Eala’s Impact and Community Support
Following Fernandez’s win, Alexandra Eala, the 20th seed, captivated a large and enthusiastic crowd with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 victory over Alycia Parks of the U.S. The city’s significant Filipino community showed strong support for Eala, leading to a rapid sell-out of the session once the schedule was announced.
Eala, 21, recently won the DC Open final, completing her three-set match against Jessica Pegula on Monday after rain delays. She is the first Filipino player to win a WTA Tour event. Eala expressed feeling “very at home” with the overwhelming support from the crowd, comparing it to the support she received in Dubai earlier in the year.
The enthusiasm for Eala has been growing for months, with large crowds cheering her at various tournaments. Fernandez also commented on the strong support from the Filipino community, noting their pride in anyone from the country or with Filipino heritage. She highlighted the passionate and loving nature of the fan base, often seen with Filipino flags at matches.
Only one of the top 10 seeds has been eliminated from the tournament so far. The No. 6 seed, Linda Noskova, who was playing for the first time since winning Wimbledon last month, lost 7-6 (5), 6-1 to Caty McNally of the U.S. Both the No. 2 seed, Elena Rybakina, and the No. 3 seed, Jessica Pegula, advanced after winning their respective three-set matches on Wednesday. Eala is scheduled to return to Centre Court on Thursday night to compete in doubles with Venus Williams.
Source: sportsnet.ca
