Leylah Annie Fernandez has won consecutive matches for the first time since May and her father and coach Jorge thinks the atmosphere in Toronto is a big reason why. "The fans have shown an immense amount of love and recognition of her work," he said. "I think that has elevated, once again, her belief that this can happen for her and she can turn it around."
Canada’s Leylah Annie Fernandez rolled to a 6-1, 6-4 victory over fifth-seeded Russian Mirra Andreeva at the National Bank Open on Friday for her first win over a top-10 opponent this season.
Naomi Osaka and Leylah Annie Fernandez will faceoff in the round-of-16 in Toronto after playing a practice set in Washington during the previous event. "Truthfully, I played really bad," Osaka recalled with a laugh. "I hope maybe she thinks that I'll play that bad, and she will be caught off guard."
Kayla Cross had a lot of fun playing doubles with Bianca Andreescu in Toronto. "It means so much," the 21-year-old from London, Ont. said. "Her attitude towards everything is so great." Cross, who won her first WTA match on Monday, is leaning on the 2019 US Open champion for advice as she aims to get established on tour.
After rewatching her first-round loss in Toronto, Bianca Andreescu is focusing on "finishing shots" in preparation for the qualifying event at the US Open. "Of course, I would love to be in the main draw, but I know where I’m at right now," the 26-year-old said. "I just have to keep building my way up."
Bianca Andreescu, who lifted the trophy in Toronto in 2019, believes Leylah Annie Fernandez is capable of following in her footsteps this year. "She’s fearless," Andreescu said. "Like, when she’s on, she’s on. She can beat anybody. Her game is so beautiful as well, very aggressive."
New coach Eric Hechtman was impressed with the toughness Leylah Annie Fernandez displayed during an upset win over Mirra Andreeva. "I told her the main thing was to work every single point and mix it up with coming to the net and she did," he said. "She’s a helluva athlete and she showed it today."
American tennis star and reigning National Bank Open winner Ben Shelton continued his title defence with a dominant straight set win over Zizou Bergs on Friday to advance to the Round of 16 in Montreal.
Leylah Annie Fernandez upset No. 5 seed Mirra Andreeva on Friday to record her first top-10 win in more than a year. The 23-year-old Canadian told TSN "it's been a while" since she felt that good in a match. Fernandez believes working hard on her mental game is now paying off in Toronto.
TSN's Mark Masters joins SportsCentre to breakdown Leylah Annie Fernandez's upset win over Mirra Andreeva Friday to advance to the Round of 16 at the National Bank Open.
After an injury prevented Serena Williams from playing doubles with Venus at Wimbledon, the sisters are finally reuniting next week in Cincinnati. "I think the whole world was looking forward to Wimbledon, and it just didn't end up the way we had hoped," Venus said. "Hopefully we can get on the court and get back into the swing of things and pick up right where we left off."
Venus Williams and Alex Eala were all smiles on Thursday despite dropping their first-round doubles match in Toronto. "The fact that I got to play with Venus is like an amazing highlight to my career," Eala said. Venus initiated the partnership. "I think we both thrive in pressure situations," the 46-year-old said. "Alex is a world star. She's just incredible."
After dropping the first set, Cameron Norrie battled back in a big way against the No. 3 ranked Alex de Minaur, taking the next set in a long tiebreak and dominating the final set to earn the upset victory.
Four-time Grand Slam winner and World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka dropped only seven points on her first serve in a comfortable 6-3, 6-4 win over Zhang Shuai in 76 minutes.
The Fernandez sisters – 23-year-old Leylah Annie and 22-year-old Bianca Jolie – lost their rain-delayed first-round doubles match on Thursday. But despite the result, the pair are relishing every moment of the rare time together this week in Toronto.
After dropping a close first-round match, Gaby Dabrowski spoke to TSN about sharing the court with Coco Gauff and why she's taking the defeat in stride. The 34-year-old from Ottawa also shared her expectations for the US Open mixed doubles event and reflected on an unexpected moment with Princess Kate at Wimbledon.
Caty McNally is embracing the chance to play in a hostile environment on Friday night against Filipino fan favourite Alex Eala. "It's going to be crazy," the 24-year-old American said. "I'm expecting a full crowd and every single person cheering for her and my little team cheering for me. But it's going to be a great experience no matter what."
No. 7 seed Iga Swiatek conceded just three games in a dominant 6-2, 6-1 win over Viktorija Golubic in 66 minutes that booked her a spot in the Round of 16 at the National Bank Open.
There was a lot to like about Leylah Annie Fernandez's performance on Wednesday, but one thing, in particular, stood out to her father and coach. "Finally, with the Toronto crowd cheering her on, I think it gave her the courage that she needed to start going to the net a little bit more," Jorge Fernandez said. "And when she goes to the net good things really happen."
Alexandra Eala fed off the fan support to win her Toronto debut. "I saw so many Filipino flags, it gave me so much joy," the 21-year-old star from the Philippines said. "I know Toronto is such a multi-cultural city, so it's nice for me to be here for the first time, experience that culture, experience that atmosphere."
Canadian Félix-Auger Aliassime has withdrawn from the National Bank Open in Montreal due to a back injury he suffered while training, the tournament announced on Wednesday. Auger-Aliassime’s withdrawal comes one day after fellow Canadians Gabriel Diallo and Denis Shapovalov were forced to retire from matches on Tuesday.
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