Osaka beats Fernandez to reach Canadian Open quarters

Naomi Osaka defeated local favourite Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-2 on Thursday to reach the quarter-finals of the Canadian Open in Montreal.

The match was a rematch of the 2021 US Open final, where Fernandez stunned Osaka in front of a raucous New York crowd. This time, Osaka controlled the baseline rallies and broke Fernandez’s serve four times, silencing the pro-Fernandez crowd. The win extends Osaka’s strong summer hard-court form, following a run to the final in San Jose last week.

Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, is rebuilding her ranking after a year away from the tour in 2022. She entered Montreal ranked 50th but is projected to rise with this result. Fernandez, ranked 35th, had won their only prior meeting but struggled with Osaka’s power and consistency in this encounter.

Osaka will next face either Coco Gauff or Marie Bouzková in the last eight. A deep run in Montreal would boost her chances of a top seeding at the upcoming US Open, where she has twice won the title. For Fernandez, the loss ends a disappointing home tournament after she received a wildcard entry.