Leylah Fernandez posts upset win over Russia's Mirra Andreeva in National Bank Open 3rd round

A down season is showing signs of life for Canada's Leylah Fernandez.

The timing could not be better for National Bank Open organizers nearly left without a domestic storyline at the tournament's midway point.

Fernandez booked a spot in the Round of 16 at the WTA Tour event Friday with a 6-1, 6-4 upset win over fifth-seeded Russian Mirra Andreeva.

“I've put in the work," Fernandez said from Toronto. "I know physically I am strong. I know I can endure long rallies and long matches. So, if it's going to take 100 balls to hit, to put it in, to break her down, then so be it."

The third-round victory was her first win over a top-10 opponent this season. She has split four career meetings with Andreeva, who has won three WTA titles this year.

Fernandez, who reached the U.S. Open final in 2021, is the lone Canadian left in the field, singles or doubles, at the WTA 1000-level hard-court tournament.

"Hearing that I'm the lone Canadian [left], of course there's a little bit of pressure," Fernandez said. "But also, a lot more motivation and reasons to keep going on the path that I am on."

Fernandez, the No. 30 seed, was in control for most of the match on a muggy, overcast afternoon at Sobeys Stadium.

Andreeva struggled with unforced errors and couldn't establish a rhythm against the crowd favourite from Laval, Que., who improved to 15-20 this season.

'She's a fighter'

Down 2-5 in the second set, Andreeva picked up her first break and then held serve to put some pressure on, but Fernandez would serve it out for the win in 80 minutes.

"She's a fighter," Fernandez said. "She's top 10 for a reason, top five for a reason. She's won a Grand Slam for a reason. So, she wasn't going to just hand over the match to me."

Earlier in the day, second-seeded Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan secured a spot in the Round of 16 with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over American Ann Li at Sobeys Stadium.

Rybakina headlines the bottom half of the 96-player draw at the WTA Tour event. She saved two set points en route to the 90-minute victory.

In the late-morning singles match, Russia's Alina Korneeva upset 13th-seeded American Iva Jovic 6-3, 6-4.

Fernandez, who improved to 1-4 against top-10 players, will face Japan's Naomi Osaka in the fourth round. The 11th-seeded Osaka defeated Belgium's Elise Mertens 6-1, 6-2 later in the day.

The tournament was dealt a blow before it started when Canada's Victoria Mboko confirmed she wouldn't be able to defend her title due to a knee injury.

Five Canadian wild-card singles entries fell in the first round and two others — Toronto's Katherine Sebov and Kayla Cross of London, Ont. — lost in the second.

Fernandez lost opening doubles match with sister

All five Canadians in doubles made quick exits. Cross and Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ont., dropped a 6-4, 7-6 (3) decision to American Quinn Gleason and Norway's Ulrikke Eikeri on Friday afternoon.

A day earlier, Fernandez and her sister Bianca Fernandez lost their opening match. Ottawa's Gabriela Dabrowski, the world No. 3. lost with Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova who was a late substitute for the injured Luisa Stefani of Brazil.

With a vocal contingent of fans cheering Fernandez on for the mid-afternoon start, the Canadian broke Andreeva in the fourth game when she sailed a return long.

Andreeva had few answers for the Canadian's pressure and pace. Fernandez was aggressive and capitalized on her opportunities.

She also became energized as the match continued while the 19-year-old Andreeva, four years younger than the Canadian, appeared frustrated at her inconsistency.

"I've just got to keep working hard and keep having that mentality of fighting," Fernandez said.

Fourth-seeded American Coco Gauff defeated 29th-seeded Maria Sakkari of Greece 6-1, 6-4 in Friday night's showcase matchup. Gauff only needed one hour 16 minutes to bounce Sakkari.

The late match was set to feature rising Filipino star Alexandra Eala, the No. 25 seed, and American Caty McNally.

Play continues until Thursday at the$7.43 million US tournament.

Shelton fires 6 aces against Belgium's Bergs

Ben Shelton's National Bank Open title defence remained on track Friday.

The fifth-seeded American cruised past Belgium's Zizou Bergs 6-3, 6-2 in just over an hour on IGA Stadium's Centre Court in Montreal to reach the fourth round of the Masters 1000 tennis tournament.

Shelton, who won his maiden Masters 1000 title in Toronto last year, fired six aces and had yet to drop a set through his opening two matches.

The world No. 10 was the highest-ranked player remaining in the draw. Just a dozen of the tournament's 32 seeds remained, including only three of the top 10.

Shelton also reached the fourth round of a Masters 1000 event for the first time in 2026 after failing to string together consecutive wins at any of the ATP's signature tournaments.

Both players held serve through the first five games Friday before Shelton broke in the sixth to take a 4-2 lead. He held serve the rest of the way to close out the opening set 6-3.

The American broke again in the fifth game of the second set, aided by an ill-timed double fault and the third of the match from Bergs.

Shelton then broke Bergs for a second time in the set to move within a game of victory before serving out the match.

More NBO success for Griekspoor

The 23-year-old Shelton meets either ninth-seeded Norwegian Casper Ruud or 19-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca in Sunday's fourth round.

Ruud and Fonseca were scheduled to meet Friday evening on Centre Court.

Earlier Friday, Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor upset No. 30 seed and 2024 National Bank Open semifinalist Matteo Arnaldi 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Griekspoor, who stunned top seed Alexander Zverev in the second round, reached the Round of 16 at a Masters 1000 event for the fifth time in his career and first time this season.

His next opponent is 21-year-old Spaniard Daniel Merida, who defeated American Alex Michelsen 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-1 on Rogers Court.

Merida has won nine of his last 10 matches since Wimbledon and reached the fourth round of a Masters 1000 tournament for the first time. The victory also propelled him into the ATP's top 50 for the first time in his career.

Friday evening's session was also to feature No. 13 seed Jakub Mensik of Czechia against Frenchman Terence Atmane, and an all-American matchup of Learner Tien versus Tommy Paul.

Australia's Alexei Popyrin, the 2024 NBO Open champion, was also scheduled to face Argentina's Thiago Agustin Tirante on Friday.

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