Opening-round matches continued today at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers and the weather couldn’t have been better. Sunny but with a gentle breeze, offering both fans and players ideal conditions for high-level tennis.
Aside from the action on court, today is also Ciot Women’s Day at the NBO and there were several related initiatives unfolding around the grounds and city.
One of the biggest tournament-related events happening here in Toronto is the UNMATCHED: Gender Equity in Sports Conference presented by Tennis Canada and the National Bank. This is the third annual UNMATCHED conference with a theme of Champions of Equity.
The keynote speaker was none other than seven-time Grand Slam champion and former World No. 1 Venus Williams. Other notable speakers included PWHL player and Canadian Olympic hockey hero Marie-Philip Poulin along with her teammates Natalie Spooner and Laura Stacey, and Olympic Bronze medal-winning soccer player Carmelina Moscato.
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While that happened just north of the tournament venue, the activations and entertainment for fans on-site continued to impress as well. Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina was the player guest this morning at the Centre of Excellence to chat about the importance of Gender Equity among other topics. Rising star, and fellow Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk spent some time doing a Q&A with fans mid-day at the main stage.
Canadian Carson Branstine could be found at the Psycho Bunny boutique on site interacting with fans in the afternoon. Branstine wrapped up her NCAA College tennis career this spring with a national title where she played a huge role in helping Texas A&M to the championship.
She fell in the opening round of qualifying but has stuck around to practice and support her fellow Canadians. She departs tonight for Serbia to play some events over there.
In terms of tennis action, Canadian fans were thrilled to see Mississauga’s Marina Stakusic get through her first-ever main-draw match at the National Bank Open. The 19-year-old said that she slept soundly last night but did feel some nerves as she stepped out onto Centre Court.
After dropping the opening set in a tiebreak, Stakusic steadied herself and emerged with a 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-4 over Erika Andreeva. She’ll now advance to face veteran American Taylor Townsend. Asked what she knows about her next opponent, Stakusic freely admitted that, “I think the only thing I know is that she’s a lefty! I don’t know anything about her (laughing). That’s a question for Rob [Steckley] probably.”
Next up on Centre Court was the highly anticipated match-up between three-time Slam finalist Ons Jabeur, the 9th seed, and former four-time Slam champ and former World No. 1 Naomi Osaka. Jabeur is the most recent guest we’ve had on Match Point Canada, the official podcast of Tennis Canada and in the interview she chats about the challenge that Osaka presents.
Read also: Naomi Osaka Thriving On and Off the Court
The match was played on Osaka’s terms, who said afterwards about facing the best players in the world again that, “I mean, I missed it a lot, that’s kind of the reason I came back. I think…where I’m at right now it gives me a really good test to see where my weapons lay against theirs, so I was kind of excited to play against her in the first round.”
In the first match of the evening session on Centre Court, Leylah Annie Fernandez, the only Canadian seed in singles, had a last-minute surprise as her expected opponent Zhang Shuai withdrew with a viral illness and was replaced by Nao Hibino.
Fernandez did not seem bothered as she took the first set without much opposition. It looked like it was going to be a straight-sets victory but Hibino rallied from down a break in the second and then broke the Canadian towards the end of the set to avoid a tiebreak and level the match. Fernandez calmed down to begin the third set, settled her serve, and went on to win 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, to the delight of the packed house in attendance.
Fernandez’ best result at the Canadian WTA 1000 event was making the round of sixteen last summer in Montreal. Her next opponent will be American qualifier Ashlyn Krueger in the second round.
The WTA's best return to Toronto this summer for the National Bank Open August 4 to 12, 2024 at Sobeys Stadium. 2024 Tickets are on sale. Get your tickets today!
Feature Photo: Gyles Dias
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