Leylah Fernandez opens her National Bank Open run in Toronto with the kind of spotlight that only a home event can create. As Canada’s top-ranked woman in the field, she carries both strong support and clear expectations into a second-round meeting with Renata Zarazúa.
A Home Favorite Under the Microscope
Fernandez will play her first match of the tournament on Wednesday evening at Sobeys Stadium, with the start scheduled for no earlier than 7:00 p.m. ET. She entered as the No. 30 seed and received a first-round bye, while Zarazúa earned this matchup by winning her opening match.
The 23-year-old Canadian is one of the country’s most recognizable tennis players, thanks in part to her run to the 2021 US Open final. Her fast-paced style and willingness to battle for every point have made her a natural crowd favorite, especially in front of Canadian fans.
That support can help, but it also raises the stakes. Fernandez has reached this event seven times and has never gone beyond the third round. Her best showing in Canada came in Montreal in 2023, when she beat then-No. 11 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia before falling in the next round. She entered this year’s tournament with a 4-6 career record at the National Bank Open.
Signs of Form, but Not Full Consistency
Fernandez arrives in Toronto after an uneven stretch on North American hard courts. In Washington, she lost to Alexandra Eala in the second round, dropping a 6-2, 7-6 decision after leading 5-1 in the second set. Eala later won the event, but Fernandez’s loss still showed how fragile momentum has been at key moments.
Her season has followed a similar pattern. Before Toronto, Fernandez had 12 wins and 19 losses in 2026. Even so, she has shown that her level can rise against strong opposition. Her best result of the year came at the Madrid Open, where she reached the quarterfinals of a WTA 1000 tournament.
For Fernandez, the clearest path forward is to keep points on her terms. Her left-handed game is most effective when she takes the ball early, applies pressure from the baseline, and prevents opponents from settling into long exchanges. If she serves well and limits loose errors, she has the tools to control the match.
Zarazúa Adds Real Risk to the First Match
Fernandez is the favorite on paper, but Zarazúa is not a soft opening draw. The Mexican player entered Toronto ranked outside the top 70, yet she brings solid movement, patience, and the ability to extend rallies until opponents start forcing the issue.
Because Zarazúa already has match rhythm from the first round, Fernandez will need to adjust quickly. A slow start could let the match become a grind, and that would play into Zarazúa’s strengths. Fernandez also leads their head-to-head history, which gives her a useful edge, but the result is likely to depend on discipline more than power.
If Fernandez can start well, the Toronto crowd should lift her further. A clean opening set would take some pressure off and make the atmosphere feel like an asset instead of a burden.
The Road Ahead Is Steep
A win would likely send Fernandez into a third-round meeting with fifth seed Mirra Andreeva, one of the WTA Tour’s most promising young players. That would raise the difficulty level sharply. Depending on how the draw unfolds, Fernandez could also run into Elise Mertens or four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka later in the event.
That path leaves little room for a cautious start. Fernandez needs a confident opening performance to build momentum, because a deep run would require her most steady tennis of the year. Even reaching the fourth round or quarterfinals would mark her best result at this tournament and would provide a timely boost before the US Open.
For now, the task is simple: handle the home pressure, bring the aggression that has won her five career singles titles, and beat an opponent who will make her earn every point.
Toronto will be loud for her. Fernandez now has to turn that energy into the kind of run Canada has been waiting to see.