Defending National Bank Open champion Ben Shelton returns to final after injury scare Ben Shelton, the defending National Bank Open champion, is set to compete in the final on Thursday. This year’s final will be held in Toronto, alternating with Montreal as the tournament’s traditional location. Shelton advanced to the final by defeating Learner Tien in straight sets, though the match was interrupted by a significant on-court incident. During the semifinal, Shelton’s shoulder and left hand collided with the back wall, causing an open wound on his arm and hand. The injury required an extensive medical timeout to stop the bleeding. Tennis commentator Jim Courier noted the severity of the situation, drawing a comparison to a similar incident involving Zeynep Sonmez at the French Open. Sonmez had collided with a platform before the back wall, resulting in a retirement and an ankle injury. While the exact details of Sonmez’s incident were not specified, the reference highlighted the potential risks of such collisions. Shelton’s condition remains a concern, with questions about whether the injury could affect his left-hand serving motion. The final promises to be an all-American men’s final for the first time in nearly 25 years. Shelton, the tournament’s defending champion, faces Brandon Nakashima, a player who has not reached this stage before. Nakashima, coached by Wayne Ferreira, has been climbing the rankings with strong performances at events such as Queen’s Club, Washington, DC, and Montreal. He is currently ranked World No. 22 in the ATP live rankings, marking a career high. His recent match against Rafael Jodar showcased his ability to compete at a high level.#learner_tien #ben_shelton #zeynep_sonmez #national_bank_open #jim_courier
Gauff returns to Canadian Open quarters with dominant victory over Korneeva For the first time in three years, World No. 4 Coco Gauff advanced to the quarterfinals at the National Bank Open, securing her place in the final eight with a decisive 6-3, 6-1 victory over teenage qualifier Alina Korneeva. The win marks Gauff’s seventh WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz quarterfinal of 2026 and positions her to face the winner of the Belinda Bencic-Alexandra Eala matchup later in the day. Gauff, 22, has yet to drop a set in Toronto, maintaining her dominance with only four games lost across her first three matches. Korneeva, 18, faced her first-ever challenge against a top 10 player, having previously stunned higher-ranked opponents with victories over No. 23 seed Emma Navarro and No. 13 seed Iva Jovic. Despite her recent success, Korneeva’s bid for a breakthrough ended in straight sets, highlighting Gauff’s ability to neutralize threats from both established and emerging talent. Gauff’s performance at the Canadian Open underscores her growing consistency on the WTA Tour. Since 1990, she has become the second player to reach 25 or more career Tier I/WTA 1000 quarterfinals before turning 23, joining Martina Hingis, who achieved 39 such appearances. This milestone places Gauff in elite company, reflecting her longevity and adaptability in a fiercely competitive landscape. Her 2026 campaign at the Canadian Open also highlights her ability to thrive in high-stakes matches. Gauff now has four quarterfinal appearances at the event, with two in Toronto and two in Montreal. Only Gabriela Sabatini, who reached six such matches before turning 23, has surpassed this record. This achievement underscores Gauff’s resilience, as she previously struggled to advance beyond the Round of 16 for two consecutive years.#alexandra_eala #coco_gauff #belinda_bencic #alina_korneeva #national_bank_open
Alex Eala Advances to Third Round at National Bank Open with Victory Over Alycia Parks Alex Eala continued her impressive run at the National Bank Open in Toronto by defeating Alycia Parks in a three-set match, securing her place in the third round. The Filipina, seeded No. 25 after her title win at the Mubadala DC Open, triumphed with a score of 6-1, 4-6, 6-2, overcoming a challenging opponent and avenging her earlier loss to Parks at the Australian Open. The victory marked Eala’s sixth consecutive win on North American hard courts, further solidifying her dominance in the region. The match began with Eala asserting her control, breaking Parks’ serve in the fourth game to take an early lead. She maintained her composure, navigating a tightly contested service game to extend her advantage to 4-1. Parks, despite firing four aces in the first set, struggled to sustain her serve from the baseline, committing 18 unforced errors. Eala, in contrast, remained steady, limiting her own mistakes to just seven while extending rallies and capitalizing on Parks’ errors. The reigning DC Open champion seized full control of the first set, breaking Parks for the second time in the sixth game and serving it out to wrap up the set in 31 minutes. Parks responded strongly in the second set, holding serve comfortably through the opening two games. However, Eala’s relentless returning pressure tested the American, forcing her into errors. Parks managed to break back in the 10th game and served it out to force a deciding third set. The third set saw Eala regain her rhythm, breaking Parks in the first game and following with a hold of serve to take a 2-0 lead. Parks fought back, breaking Eala to level the set at 2-2, but Eala quickly regained control, forcing a string of errors from the 2023 Cincinnati doubles champion.#alex_eala #toronto #alycia_parks #national_bank_open #catherine_mcnally
Alina Korneeva Rebounds from Injuries to Secure Top 30 Breakthrough Alina Korneeva, the 19-year-old Russian tennis player, is making a strong comeback after a series of injuries that derailed her progress in 2025. At the National Bank Open in Toronto, she stunned No. 23 seed Emma Navarro with a 6-2, 6-2 victory, securing her first Top 30 win and a spot in the third round of a WTA 1000 event. This marks a significant milestone in her career, as she moves closer to establishing herself as a consistent force on the professional circuit. Korneeva’s rise in 2026 has been remarkable. Starting the year ranked No. 210, she climbed to No. 89 this week after a 35-13 record. Her breakthrough came with a WTA 125 title in Oeiras, Portugal, where she claimed her fifth career trophy in the country, which she calls her “lucky charm.” She also qualified for the French Open and Wimbledon, and reached the semifinals at the Athens tournament in May. Her confidence has grown steadily, as she reflected after defeating Navarro: “One year ago, I was playing against players outside the Top 100. Everyone is difficult, but it’s different when you play against players outside the Top 100, and then you can beat [someone in] the Top 30.” However, Korneeva’s journey to this point has not been without setbacks. In 2023, she was the junior No. 1 after winning the Australian Open and Roland Garros girls’ titles in the same season. Her Australian Open final against Mirra Andreeva was a grueling three-hour match, ending 6-7(2), 6-4, 7-5. Despite this success, her professional career faced a major obstacle in 2024. A wrist injury required surgery, sidelining her for seven months. An adductor injury followed, forcing her to miss most of the first half of 2025.#emma_navarro #iva_jovic #rafa_nadal_academy #alina_korneeva #national_bank_open
