Carrying the hopes of the host nation at the National Bank Open in Toronto, Canadian tennis star Leylah Fernandez defeated Mexico’s Renata Zarazua 6-2, 6-2 on Wednesday at Sobeys Stadium. According to tournament reports, the 23-year-old fired three aces and converted five of six break-point opportunities to secure the victory in one hour and 23 minutes.
Carrying the National Torch in Toronto
Fernandez entered her opening match as the tournament’s No. 30 seed, receiving a first-round bye before taking the court. According to match accounts, she stepped into the spotlight as the last remaining Canadian singles player across both the men’s and women’s draws after a wave of early exits and injuries.
Fellow Canadian competitors faced difficult outcomes earlier in the week. Kayla Cross of London, Ontario, fell 7-6 (2), 6-3 to the United States’ Ann Li. Toronto’s Katherine Sebov exited in the second round, and 2019 tournament winner Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ontario, bowed out in her opening match. Meanwhile, Victoria Mboko of Burlington, Ontario, who captured last summer’s NBO title at age 18, sat out the event due to a knee injury.
The host country’s men’s contingent in Montreal faced similar attrition. Denis Shapovalov and Gabe Diallo retired from their matches, and No. 2 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime withdrew due to a back problem.
“I knew that I was the last Canadian standing,” Fernandez stated during her post-match press conference. “I guess that lit a little fire in me. We have a lot of young Canadian tennis players who are doing extremely well. And I want to be able to motivate them to keep going and to keep believing.”
Match Statistics and Next Opponent
Against Zarazua, the world No. 73 from Mexico, Fernandez capitalized on vital moments. She secured a crucial break to take a 3-2 lead in the second set before pulling away. The Laval, Quebec, native improved her career head-to-head record against Zarazua to 3-0.
Did you know? Leylah Fernandez reached a career-high ranking of No. 13 on the WTA Tour in August 2022, following her run as the runner-up at the 2021 U.S. Open.
Next up, Fernandez will face No. 5 Mirra Andreeva in the tournament’s next round. Andreeva advanced following a wave of seeded players navigating the draw, including Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, and Jessica Pegula.
Electric Atmospheres and Global Support
While Fernandez drew energy from the partisan local crowd, another high-profile match featured a vibrant display of international backing. Rising star Alexandra Eala of the Philippines defeated the United States’ Alycia Parks 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 in front of a loud, flag-waving audience.
“I saw so many Filipino flags,” Eala said after the match. “It gave me so much joy.”
Eala, seeded 25th and ranked 20th, recently became the first Filipino to pick up a WTA win when she bested Pegula in Monday’s rain-delayed D.C. Open final. Fernandez, who shares Filipino heritage on her mother’s side, noted that she watches Eala’s rise closely and acknowledges the strong diaspora support that follows players with connections to the Philippines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Leylah Fernandez playing next at the National Bank Open?
Fernandez will face No. 5 Mirra Andreeva in her next round match in Toronto.
What was the score of Leylah Fernandez’s second-round match?
Fernandez defeated Renata Zarazua in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-2.
Why was Fernandez the last Canadian singles player remaining?
Early-round losses by compatriots like Kayla Cross, Katherine Sebov, and Bianca Andreescu—combined with injuries across the men’s and women’s fields—left Fernandez as the sole remaining Canadian in the singles draws.
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