Leylah Annie Fernandez’s run at the National Bank Open in Toronto has come to an end following a 6-4, 6-4 loss to Naomi Osaka on Sunday night.
Osaka used her overpowering serve to control most of the match and wrap up the straight-sets win in one hour, 23 minutes on Centre Court at Sobeys Stadium. She will now move on to the quarter-final to take on No. 2 Elena Rybakina.
The four-time major champion reached the final at this tournament last year, where she lost to Victoria Mboko in what was the Canadian’s first WTA 1000 win.
Osaka appeared to gain the early advantage by breaking Fernandez in her second service game, but was unable to consolidate as the Canadian broke right back to even the set at 2-2.
The 13th-ranked Osaka once again earned a break on Fernandez with the chance to take full control of the set, and this time would make no mistake, earning the hold to go up 5-3 despite having to fight off a pair of break points. The four-time Grand Slam winner would successfully hold on to her next service game to close out the set 6-4.
Osaka hit four aces and 14 winners in the first set, while Fernandez hit just four winners and did not have an ace.
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The second set went on schedule early on, as both women held their first three service games. Osaka upped the pressure on serve, winning 100 per cent of her first-serve points and drilling another pair of aces through her first three service games.
The turning point of the second set came with Fernandez serving at 3-3. With a chance to put an easy winner away, the Lavalloise put the ball into the net to give Osaka double break point. Fernandez would fight back with three straight points to put herself on the brink of a fourth straight hold. However, Osaka would claw back thanks to a fantastic lob that went over Fernandez’s head and just caught the baseline, followed by a pair of Fernandez shots that went into the net, giving the 2025 NBO finalist her third break of the game.
The pair then traded holds, giving Osaka a chance to serve for the match. The 28-year-old once again leaned on her heavy serve, fittingly ending the match with her seventh ace.
The 34th-ranked Fernandez earned her first Top 10 win of the season on Friday in her victory against No. 5 Mirra Andreeva. It was also the first time in 2026 that she put together back-to-back wins on hard court.
The Canadian is now 0-2 in the round of 16 at the NBO, with her last appearance coming in a loss to Danielle Collins in 2023 in Montreal.
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Feature Photo: Mark Blinch/Wick Photography for National Bank Open
