Britain's Cameron Norrie saw his run at the National Bank Open come to an abrupt end in the round of 16, bowing out after a 6-2, 7-6 (10-8) loss to France's rising star Arthur Fils in Montreal. The 18th seed from France started the match in commanding fashion, using his big serve to dictate play and cruising to a straightforward first-set victory. Norrie, however, found a second‑wind in the following set, matching Fils' firepower and pushing the contest into a tense tie‑break. Although he carved out two set‑point chances, the British player could not capitalise when it mattered most, and Fils clinched the match after a hard‑fought 1 hour and 43 minutes of tennis.
Norrie's path to this stage had been impressive. In the previous round he produced a stunning comeback against the third‑seeded Australian Alex de Minaur. Down match point, Norrie surged to win 11 of the next 13 games, eventually prevailing 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1. That victory not only propelled him into the last‑16 but also elevated him back to the position of British No.
1, overtaking Arthur Fery. Unfortunately, he could not sustain that momentum against the hungry French teenager. Fils, buoyed by his win, will meet Spain's Rafael Jodar in the quarter‑finals after Jodar was upset by the eighth seed Jiri Lehecka in straight sets. The tournament also saw other notable performances: Brandon Nakashima and Luciano Darderi each secured three‑set victories, overcoming Arthur Rinderknech and Nuno Borges respectively, to advance further in the draw.
In the women's draw, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka suffered a surprising setback in her US Open preparation.
The Belarusian, a four‑time Grand Slam champion and reigning US Open champion, was defeated 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-4 by Russia's 16th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the fourth round of the Canadian Open held in Toronto. The match stretched to nearly two and a half hours, with Alexandrova emerging victorious and booking a place in the quarter‑finals.
Sabalenka started strongly, breaking early in the opening set, but Alexandrova fought back, forcing a tie‑break which she won to take the lead. The top seed responded by taking control of the second set, breaking for a 4-3 advantage and then serving out the set to level the match. In the decisive third set, Alexandrova's aggressive shot‑making and composure under pressure proved decisive. Sabalenka's error count rose as the match progressed, and despite saving two match points at 4-5, a double fault on the third point handed Alexandrova the win.
After the match, Alexandrova explained her mindset: "I tried to treat every point as if it were the last one because against her you don't get many chances. I tried not to think about the score, just to hit the ball. I'm really happy to have won because after the second set I thought my chance was gone." Her victory sets up a semi‑final clash with Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, who dispatched the American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 6-4.
The National Bank Open continues to deliver high‑quality tennis, with both ATP and WTA events offering thrilling narratives as players vie for crucial points ahead of the US Open. Fans can follow live action on Sky Sports, stream via NOW, or catch highlights and in‑depth analysis through the Sky Sports app.
The tournament's blend of seasoned champions and hungry newcomers underscores its reputation as a pivotal stop on the summer hard‑court swing, shaping the form and confidence of the sport's elite as they head into the final Grand Slam of the year.