National Bank Open 2026 Day 4: Sabalenka and Swiatek Advance as Shang Stuns Rublev

National Bank Open Day 4 at a Glance

Sabalenka Finds Her Range After Uchijima’s Fast Start

Sabalenka’s 6-3, 6-3 scoreline suggests a comfortable opening night. The match itself was less orderly.

Uchijima broke the world No. 1 immediately and consolidated for a 2-0 lead. Her early timing denied Sabalenka the chance to settle behind her first serve, while her willingness to redirect pace forced the top seed to adjust her movement.

Sabalenka responded by winning five consecutive games. Once she established her court position, Uchijima began defending from deeper areas and found it harder to prevent the Belarusian from attacking the first available short ball.

The second set became even more unstable. Five consecutive service breaks opened the set, with neither player able to establish control. Sabalenka finally held for 4-2, gained separation, and broke again to close the match.

The performance was not flawless, but it carried value. Sabalenka navigated an opponent who started confidently, managed the repeated breaks, and avoided turning an awkward opening match into a long physical battle.

Her return to hard courts comes after a Wimbledon campaign that ended against Naomi Osaka, a result examined in The Sports Encounter’s report on Osaka’s upset of Sabalenka at Wimbledon. Toronto gives the world No. 1 an immediate opportunity to rebuild momentum before the US Open.

Swiatek Opens With Nine Straight Games

Swiatek produced the most controlled performance among the leading women, beating Bejlek 6-0, 6-3.

The Pole won the first nine games and gave Bejlek almost no space to build confidence. Her return depth repeatedly pushed the Czech player behind the baseline, while Swiatek controlled the middle of the court and changed direction before rallies became neutral.

Bejlek finally found resistance during a remarkable Swiatek service game in the second set. The game lasted approximately 22 minutes, included 13 deuces, and gave Bejlek nine break-point opportunities to pull level at 3-3.

Swiatek survived every one of them.

That hold became the defining passage of the match. Bejlek had worked her way into the contest and forced the former world No. 1 into sustained pressure, but she left the game without the break. Swiatek then closed the door and broke again to finish the match.

The result carries extra meaning after Swiatek’s difficult Wimbledon exit. Alexandra Eala defeated her on Centre Court during a turbulent women’s tournament, as covered in our Wimbledon Day 6 report.

Toronto offered a different surface, a new tournament, and a more familiar rhythm. Swiatek’s movement, return pressure, and ability to survive the one dangerous game provided an encouraging first answer.

Marta Kostyuk Ends Katherine Sebov’s Home Run

Katherine Sebov had given the Toronto crowd an early Canadian success story, but Marta Kostyuk ended her run with a 7-6(4), 6-0 victory.

The first set was much more competitive than the second. Kostyuk struggled badly with her first serve, landing only 30 percent and committing seven double faults. Sebov broke three times and had legitimate opportunities to take control.

Kostyuk remained aggressive enough on return to prevent the Canadian from escaping. She won the tiebreak, then played with far greater freedom in the second set as Sebov’s resistance faded.

The 6-0 finish should not erase Sebov’s opening-set effort. She exposed Kostyuk’s serving problems and stayed close enough to create pressure. The missed opportunity came in failing to convert that pressure into the first set.

Svitolina Survives a Three-Set Test

Elina Svitolina’s 6-7(5), 7-6(4), 6-4 win over Jessica Bouzas Maneiro was one of the most demanding matches of Toronto’s Day 4 schedule.

Svitolina dropped serve four times during the opening set and then fell behind 3-1 in the second. Bouzas Maneiro had the former Toronto champion under sustained pressure and stood within reach of a major seeded victory.

The Ukrainian gradually improved her return positioning and forced a second-set tiebreak. Winning it changed the match.

Svitolina raced to a 5-0 lead in the decider, but the finish became far more complicated than expected. Bouzas Maneiro recovered both breaks and forced Svitolina to confront the possibility of losing a match she had apparently rescued.

After twice failing to serve it out, Svitolina broke in the 10th game to complete the victory. The performance was uneven, but her ability to remain competitive through poor serving stretches protected her place in the draw.

Keys and Shnaider Move Through, Anisimova Advances Without Playing

Madison Keys made a convincing start with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Antonia Ruzic. The American established the tone by breaking in Ruzic’s first service game and spent most of the match controlling the exchanges from the front foot.

Diana Shnaider needed three sets to beat Rebecca Sramkova 6-2, 4-6, 6-1. After losing control in the second set, Shnaider reset quickly and broke twice in the decider.

Amanda Anisimova advanced by walkover after qualifier Lanlana Tararudee withdrew before their match.

The women’s draw is already producing contrasting routes into the next round. Some seeded players have gained efficient wins, others have endured long three-set contests, and Anisimova received additional recovery time without taking the court.

For wider ATP and WTA reporting, player features, and tournament analysis, readers can follow The Sports Encounter’s Tennis Hub.

Key Toronto Results

Shang Saves Match Points and Removes Rublev

Juncheng Shang delivered the men’s result of the day by eliminating Andrey Rublev despite the Russian holding multiple match points in the third set.

Rublev entered Montreal as the No. 12 seed and a former finalist at the event. His experience, hard-court power, and recent title form made him a clear favorite against an opponent still rebuilding his position on the tour.

Shang refused to accept the direction of the match.

The Chinese left-hander protected the most important points, extended rallies when Rublev tried to finish quickly, and turned the Russian’s missed opportunities into growing pressure. Every saved match point increased the emotional cost for Rublev.

Matches of this kind often change once the favorite fails to finish. The underdog begins swinging with freedom, while the player who held match point starts revisiting the chances that disappeared.

Shang used that shift to complete the upset and open Rublev’s section of the draw.

Montreal had already lost several marquee names before the tournament. Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic withdrew, a development explored in our analysis of why Sinner and Djokovic skipped Montreal. Rublev’s exit removes another established contender and gives the surviving players a clearer opportunity to build a deep run.

De Minaur Handles Duckworth’s Resistance

Alex de Minaur defeated James Duckworth 6-2, 7-6(6) in an all-Australian meeting.

The third seed controlled the opening set with his movement and return consistency. Duckworth relies heavily on first-strike tennis, but de Minaur repeatedly forced him to hit an extra ball and made it difficult for him to finish points from comfortable positions.

The second set was tighter. Duckworth improved his service patterns and stayed close enough to force a tiebreak, where de Minaur’s defensive discipline and ability to redirect pace carried him through.

De Minaur’s win matters because Montreal offers him a strong opportunity in a depleted men’s field. He has the speed to neutralize aggressive servers and enough improved baseline authority to punish opponents when they leave the ball short.

His challenge will be maintaining that balance against players with greater weight of shot. Duckworth tested him more effectively in the second set, but de Minaur prevented the match from reaching a decider.

Tiafoe Turns the Match Around Against Cilic

Frances Tiafoe recovered from losing the first set to defeat Marin Cilic 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.

Cilic’s serve and direct baseline game gave him the early advantage. The former Grand Slam champion remained dangerous whenever he could control the first two shots of a rally.

Tiafoe changed the contest by increasing his return pressure and making Cilic move more often before attempting the finish. The American broke twice in the second set and repeated the scoreline in the third.

The final two sets showed the version of Tiafoe that can become dangerous in North American hard-court tournaments. He played with energy, attacked the crowd’s involvement, and stopped allowing Cilic to dictate the match through serve-plus-one patterns.

Closing in three sets also protected Tiafoe from an early exit that could have damaged his preparation for the US Open. The North American swing remains a critical part of his season because familiar conditions and supportive crowds often help him produce his most expressive tennis.

Tsitsipas Earns His First Montreal Main-Draw Win

Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated Martin Damm 6-4, 6-4 to record his first main-draw victory in Montreal.

The statistic is surprising for a former world No. 3 with multiple Masters titles, but Montreal had never given him the same success he enjoyed at other major tour events.

Tsitsipas controlled the important return points and broke four times during the match. His own serve was not completely secure, but he remained composed enough to avoid allowing Damm to turn either set into an extended contest.

The result continues a more encouraging period for the Greek after a difficult slide in form and ranking. A single win does not confirm a full recovery, but Toronto and Montreal are designed to expose players who lack confidence. Tsitsipas passed the first test without needing a deciding set.

Lehecka and Other Seeds Strengthen Their Positions

Jiri Lehecka defeated fellow Czech Vit Kopriva 6-4, 6-2. The eighth seed produced a cleaner performance than several of the other leading men and moved into the third round without surrendering a set.

Lehecka’s compact strokes and ability to take the ball early suit North American hard courts. His run at Wimbledon also demonstrated how difficult he can be when his first serve and forehand work together, as seen during The Sports Encounter’s Wimbledon quarterfinal coverage.

The Montreal draw will become clearer when Alexander Zverev, Félix Auger-Aliassime, defending champion Ben Shelton, and João Fonseca begin their campaigns.

Zverev arrives as one of the leading contenders following his run to the Wimbledon final. The larger story of that championship and the player who denied him can be revisited in our account of Jannik Sinner’s Wimbledon title defense.

Key Montreal Results

What Day 4 Changed in the Men’s Draw

Rublev’s defeat creates the most immediate structural change. A seeded former finalist has disappeared before establishing himself in the tournament, leaving Shang and the players around him with a more accessible route.

De Minaur strengthened his place among the serious contenders. His game does not depend on overwhelming power, which can make him more reliable during the early rounds when conditions, timing, and unfamiliar opponents create uncertainty.

Tiafoe remains harder to judge. His final two sets against Cilic were excellent, but the opening set showed how quickly he can lose control when an opponent dictates with the first serve.

Tsitsipas gained something equally important: a clean result. His ranking and recent form have placed greater pressure on every match, making even an opening-round win useful evidence that his game is stabilizing.

What Day 4 Revealed About the Women’s US Open Race

Sabalenka and Swiatek both advanced in straight sets, but their matches revealed different levels of control.

Swiatek dominated immediately and survived one extended pressure game. Sabalenka spent more time correcting early problems, particularly on serve, before her power separated her from Uchijima.

Neither performance should be overinterpreted. Opening matches often involve adjustments to court speed, bounce, wind, and competitive rhythm. Both leading players completed those adjustments without dropping a set.

Keys also looked comfortable, while Svitolina showed the kind of competitive endurance that can carry a player through an imperfect tournament. Anisimova’s walkover gives her additional rest, although it also delays her opportunity to establish match rhythm.

The North American women’s swing has already produced a major breakthrough through Alexandra Eala, who defeated Jessica Pegula to win Washington. Our report on Eala’s historic Mubadala DC Open title explains why her rise has become one of the season’s most compelling stories.

Taylor Fritz also enters the Canadian swing with momentum after winning the Washington men’s title. His victory is covered in our report on Fritz’s Mubadala DC Open championship.

What to Watch Next at the National Bank Open

• Alexander Zverev’s first match: The top seed must respond after losing the Wimbledon final and entering a draw where he is expected to challenge for the title.
• Félix Auger-Aliassime under home pressure: The Canadian carries one of Montreal’s strongest crowd storylines.
• Ben Shelton begins his title defense: Defending a Masters title brings a different level of expectation from chasing one.
• Sabalenka’s service rhythm: Her power looked increasingly effective against Uchijima, but the repeated early breaks require attention.
• Swiatek’s hard-court transition: Her first match suggested she has already found a comfortable return position and baseline rhythm.
• Shang after the upset: The challenge now is converting one dramatic win into a sustained tournament run.
• Alexandra Eala’s Toronto arrival: The Washington champion has become a major attraction following her first WTA title.

Fans can follow official schedules, scores, draws, and tournament updates through the National Bank Open website. The ATP Tour and WTA Tour also provide official player, ranking, and match information.

Final Analysis

Day 4 gave the National Bank Open the hierarchy it had been waiting for. Sabalenka and Swiatek entered Toronto with authority, De Minaur and Tiafoe protected their positions in Montreal, and Shang supplied the upset capable of changing an entire section of the draw.

The leading women left with straight-set victories, although their routes were different. Swiatek controlled almost everything outside one exhausting service game. Sabalenka needed time to settle before her power took over.

Montreal produced greater disruption. Rublev’s missed match points will follow him out of Canada, while Shang leaves the court with the kind of victory that can accelerate a young player’s confidence and reputation.

The opening rounds have now moved beyond introductions. With Zverev, Auger-Aliassime, Shelton, and other leading seeds entering the competition, the National Bank Open is about to reveal which contenders are genuinely prepared for the final stretch before the US Open.

National Bank Open Day 4 FAQs

Who won the biggest match at the National Bank Open on August 4?

Juncheng Shang produced the biggest upset by defeating No. 12 seed Andrey Rublev after the Russian held multiple match points in the third set.

What was the Sabalenka vs Uchijima score?

Aryna Sabalenka defeated Moyuka Uchijima 6-3, 6-3 in her opening match in Toronto.

What was the Swiatek vs Bejlek score?

Iga Swiatek beat Sara Bejlek 6-0, 6-3 after winning the first nine games of the match.

Did Katherine Sebov win in Toronto?

No. Marta Kostyuk defeated the Canadian wildcard 7-6(4), 6-0.

Did Alex de Minaur advance in Montreal?

Yes. De Minaur beat fellow Australian James Duckworth 6-2, 7-6(6).

Did Frances Tiafoe beat Marin Cilic?

Yes. Tiafoe recovered from losing the opening set to win 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.

Who plays next in Montreal?

Alexander Zverev, Félix Auger-Aliassime, Ben Shelton, and João Fonseca are among the leading players scheduled to begin their campaigns as the third-round lineup takes shape.