Naomi Osaka powers past Leylah Fernandez to reach Toronto quarterfinals

Naomi Osaka continued her impressive run in Canada on Sunday night, defeating home favorite Leylah Fernandez 6–4, 6–4 to reach the quarterfinals of the National Bank Open in Toronto.

The 11th-seeded Osaka relied on a powerful and highly efficient serve to keep Fernandez, the tournament’s No. 30 seed, under pressure throughout the 82-minute match. Osaka hit seven aces, won 76 percent of her first-serve points and finished with 29 winners against just nine unforced errors.

The former world No. 1 broke Fernandez early in the opening set and later secured another break at 4–3 before closing out the set 6–4. Fernandez mounted another challenge in the second, but Osaka maintained her composure and broke again at 4–3. She then held her serve to complete the straight-sets victory.

The result extends a notable stretch of consistency for Osaka. She has now reached the quarterfinals at four consecutive WTA events she entered (Bad Homburg, Wimbledon, Washington and Toronto), marking a significant run during her return to top-level competition. It is also her second consecutive Canadian Open quarterfinal appearance.

For Osaka, the victory carries significance beyond the tournament. The four-time Grand Slam champion, born in Japan to a Haitian father, Leonard François, and Japanese mother, Tamaki Osaka, has long embraced both sides of her heritage. Her connection to Haiti has made her a particularly important figure for Haitian fans around the world.

Next comes one of the biggest challenges of the tournament. Osaka will face second-seeded Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals. The matchup will mark the first career meeting between the two players, setting up a clash between two of the women’s game’s most powerful hitters. Rybakina reached the quarterfinals after rallying past Liudmila Samsonova 6–4, 4–6, 6–4.

For Osaka, the opportunity is another chance to measure her resurgent form against one of the sport’s elite players.