World number two Elena Rybakina survived a major test to reach the Canadian Open quarter-finals in Toronto, recovering from a two-break deficit in the deciding set to beat Liudmila Samsonova 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka also progressed, setting up a high-profile last-eight meeting between Rybakina and Osaka.
Rybakina was pushed all the way by Samsonova after taking the opening set 6-4. Samsonova responded with a 6-4 second set and then moved 3-0 ahead in the decider, with two breaks of serve. Rybakina found a way back, however, and completed the turnaround to secure her place in the quarter-finals.
The victory keeps the Kazakhstan star in contention in Toronto and sends her into a first career meeting with Osaka. Their quarter-final brings together two players who have both navigated demanding routes through the tournament to this point.
Rybakina sets first meeting with Osaka
Osaka booked her place in the last eight with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Canadian home favourite Leylah Fernandez. The 13th-ranked Japanese player broke in the seventh game of each set and completed the match in 82 minutes.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka said she was pleased with her performance against Fernandez, while also acknowledging the challenge posed by the Canadian. “It was all pretty good for me,” Osaka said. “She has a great attitude. She’s consistent and she will fight. She’s kind of like a bulldog.”
Osaka said confident groundstrokes would be important as she turns her attention to Rybakina. “When I feel comfortable or at least confident in myself knowing I can run things down, I loosen up a lot,” Osaka said.
She also pointed to an area she hopes to improve before the quarter-final. “I was catching my service toss a couple times. Hopefully in the next match I don’t do that as often,” Osaka said. “I need to be confident in myself, execute what I can and at the end of the day just try my best and whatever happens happens.”
For Rybakina, the Samsonova match provided a stern examination before the Osaka encounter. After falling behind 0-3 in the final set, she recovered from the difficult position to win the last set 6-4 and maintain her run in Canada.
Gauff continues straight-sets run
Fourth-ranked Gauff advanced with a more routine 6-3, 6-1 victory over Russian teenage qualifier Alina Korneeva. The American has not dropped a set in Canada and reached the last eight at the event for the first time since 2023.
Gauff said her priority was to finish the match efficiently. “My main focus today was let me try and close it out,” she said. “Probably not the way I should be thinking but it worked today.”
She added that her recent performances have given her confidence heading into the latter stages of the tournament. “I’m proud of how the last three matches have gone and just knowing if I have to go the distance I’m ready but obviously would prefer to cut it short if I can,” Gauff said.
Gauff will next face either 12th-seeded Swiss player Belinda Bencic or Alexandra Eala, the 21-year-old Filipina who won her first WTA title in Washington the previous Monday. With Rybakina, Osaka and Gauff all through, the Toronto quarter-final line-up has taken shape around three of the tournament’s most prominent remaining contenders.
