Britain's Cameron Norrie saw his campaign 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 with a clear advantage, using his booming serve to dominate the early exchanges and secure the opening set with relative ease. Norrie, however, raised his level in the second set, matching Fils' power and forcing the contest into a tie‑break.
Despite carving out two opportunities to close the set, Norrie's chances evaporated at the crucial moments, and Fils ultimately clinched the victory 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 upset over the third‑seeded Australian Alex de Minaur. After trailing match point, Norrie turned the tide dramatically, winning 11 of the next 13 games to capture the match 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1. That triumph not only propelled him into the last‑16 but also reclaimed the British No.
1 ranking for him, overtaking Arthur Fery. Unfortunately, he could not sustain that momentum against the hungry French teenager. With the win, Fils will now meet Spain's Rafael Jodar in the quarter‑finals, having already dispatched the eighth seed Jiri Lehecka in straight sets earlier in the day. The tournament also saw Brandon Nakashima and Italy's Luciano Darderi advance after grueling three‑set battles against Arthur Rinderknech and Nuno Borges, respectively.
Both matches underscored the depth of talent on display at the Canadian Open and set the stage for an exciting second half of the event. In parallel news from the women's draw, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka suffered a surprising setback in her preparation for the US Open. The Belarusian, a four‑time Grand Slam champion and reigning US Open title‑holder, was upset in the fourth round of the Canadian Open in Toronto by Russia's 16th‑seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova.
The match stretched to nearly two and a half hours, with Alexandrova prevailing 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-4 to secure a place in the quarter‑finals. Sabalenka started strongly, breaking early in the first set, but Alexandrova rallied, forcing a tie‑break that she won, taking the lead. The Belarusian responded by tightening her game in the second set, breaking for a 4-3 advantage and eventually serving out to level the match.
The decisive third set saw Alexandrova's aggressive shot‑making and mental composure give her the edge. Sabalenka's error count rose as the pressure mounted, and despite saving two match points at 4-5, a double fault on the third point handed the victory to Alexandrova. After the match, Alexandrova explained her approach, saying she treated every point as if it were the last, refusing to dwell on the score and focusing solely on hitting the ball. She expressed surprise at her own resilience, noting that after losing the second set she thought her chances were gone, yet she managed to pull through.
Alexandrova's win sets up a semi‑final clash with Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, who earned her spot by defeating American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 6-4. The upcoming matches promise high‑quality tennis as the field narrows toward the championship rounds. Overall, the Canadian Open has delivered a blend of expected performances and shocking upsets. Norrie's early exit highlights the volatility of the men's draw, while Sabalenka's defeat serves as a reminder that even the top players can be vulnerable ahead of major events.
Fans can continue to follow the action live on Sky Sports, via the NOW streaming service, or through the Sky Sports app, which offers comprehensive coverage, highlights, and on‑demand video content. The tournament will continue through the weekend, with the quarter‑finals, semi‑finals, and ultimately the finals set to determine the champions of both the ATP and WTA tours in Montreal and Toronto.