Britain's Cameron Norrie saw his campaign at the National Bank Open come to an abrupt halt 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 Frenchman, seeded 18th, imposed his game from the outset, using a big, aggressive serve to cruise through the first set with little resistance. Norrie, who had been riding a wave of confidence after a dramatic comeback against third seed Alex de Minaur in the previous round, attempted to raise his level in the second set. He matched Fils' power and even generated two set‑point chances, but he could not capitalize when it mattered most.
The French teenager ultimately clinched the match in a tightly contested tie‑break, sealing the victory after a total of one hour and 43 minutes of play. Norrie's earlier triumph over de Minaur was a classic reversal of fortunes. Down match point, the British player surged back, winning 11 of the next 13 games to take the match 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1.
That win propelled him back to the position of British No. 1, overtaking Arthur Fery. However, the momentum from that dramatic win proved insufficient to overcome the fresh challenge posed by Fils, who will now advance to the quarter‑finals to meet Spain's Rafael Jodar after dispatching eighth seed Jiri Lehecka in straight sets. Other notable results from the day included Brandon Nakashima and Luciano Darderi, both of whom survived grueling three‑set battles to move forward.
Nakashima edged past Arthur Rinderknech, while Darderi overcame Nuno Borges, each match showcasing the depth of talent on the ATP Tour. On the women's side, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka suffered a surprising setback in her US Open preparation.
In the fourth round of the Canadian Open in Toronto, the Belarusian was defeated 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-4 by Russia's 16th‑seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova. The encounter stretched to nearly two and a half hours, with Alexandrova fighting back from a set down to secure her place in the quarter‑finals.
Sabalenka, a four‑time Grand Slam champion and reigning US Open titleholder, started the match strongly, breaking early in the first set. Alexandrova, however, rallied to force a tie‑break, which she won to take the opening set. The Belarusian responded by taking control of the second set, breaking for a 4-3 lead and then serving out to level the match. In the decisive third set, Alexandrova held her nerve, capitalising on a rise in Sabalenka's unforced errors.
At 4-5, Sabalenka saved two match points, but a double fault on the third point handed the victory to Alexandrova. After the match, Alexandrova explained her mindset: "I just tried to play every single point as if it was the last one because with her, you don't get a lot of chances during the match.
Honestly, I was trying not to think about the score or anything. Just hit the ball, and that's it. I'm super happy that I could win because after the second set, I thought the chance was already past me." Her composure under pressure highlighted the fine margins that can decide high‑stakes tennis. Alexandrova's next opponent will be Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, who earned her semi‑final berth by defeating American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 6-4.
The upcoming semi‑finals promise compelling match‑ups as players vie for a spot in the final of the Canadian Open, a key warm‑up event ahead of the US Open. Both the ATP and WTA Tours will continue to showcase top‑level competition over the next few days, with live coverage available on Sky Sports from August 30 onward, as well as streaming options through NOW and the Sky Sports app. Tennis enthusiasts are encouraged to use a Chrome browser for the most accessible video player experience. In summary, the day delivered a mix of expected outcomes and surprising upsets.
Norrie's exit underscores the difficulty of maintaining momentum after a dramatic win, while Alexandrova's triumph over Sabalenka serves as a reminder that even the world's best can be vulnerable on any given day. Fans can look forward to the quarter‑finals and beyond, where the remaining contenders will battle for titles and valuable ranking points as they sharpen their games ahead of the upcoming Grand Slam.