Swiatek sinks, Osaka shines at Canadian Open
The 22-year-old Tauson used her creativity and firepower to frustrate the six-time Grand Slam champion from Poland, staying calm when she was broken in the second set and sealing the win when Swiatek's backhand landed in the net.
'It's tough conditions here with the wind but I tried my best to keep my head cool and keep working,' Tauson said in her on-court interview.
'Even though I got broken in the second set, I was feeling confident and I'm really happy about the win.'
Swiatek's loss came a day after top seed Coco Gauff was stunned in straight sets by Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko, and both Swiatek and Gauff will look to sharpen their games ahead of the start of the U.S. Open later this month.
World number one and U.S. Open defending champion Aryna Sabalenka is not competing in Montreal.
Tauson, seeded 16th, will face Madison Keys in the quarterfinals after the big-serving American saved two match points to emerge with a hard-fought 4-6 6-3 7-5 win over Czech Karolina Muchova.
Tauson beat Keys in their only previous meeting in Auckland in January. Keys went on to capture her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open later that month.
Former world number one Naomi Osaka showed flashes of her past dominance to reach the quarterfinals, needing just 49 minutes to steamroll Anastasija Sevastova 6-1 6-0.
It marks the first time the Japanese player has advanced to the last eight of a WTA 1000 event in 19 months, which came in Doha in 2024.
'I had a solid plan coming in here, and it happened to work out very well,' Osaka said in her on-court interview.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka will face either American Amanda Anisimova or Ukrainian Elina Svitolina for a place in the semis.
De Minaur beats Tiafoe
On the men's side of the tournament, which is being played in Toronto, Alex de Minaur used his speedy defense to edge American Frances Tiafoe 6-2 4-6 6-4.
The ninth-seeded Australian, who is coming off a victory at the ATP 500 Washington Open last week and who is in search of his first Masters 1000 title, will next face American Ben Shelton, who beat Italy's Flavio Cobolli 6-4 4-6 7-6(1).
'It was never going to be easy and Frances has the ability to turn the switch on whenever he wants, so it is always very tricky to put him away,' De Minaur said.
'I think I battled him, myself, and the conditions and I am happy to sneak away with a win today.'
Defending champion Pegula sent packing by Sevastova at Canadian Open, Swiatek through
Russian sixth seed Andrey Rublev advanced to the quarterfinals of the tournament for the first time after Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina was forced to retire from the match with an injury while trailing 7-6(3) 6-7(2) 3-0.
Second-seeded American Taylor Fritz will battle 19th-seeded Czech player Jiri Lehecka later in the evening.
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Express Tribune
13 minutes ago
- Express Tribune
Swiatek sinks, Osaka shines at Canadian Open
Clara Tauson reacts after winning a point against Iga Swiatek in fourth round play at IGA Stadium. Photo: REUTERS Iga Swiatek was the latest top player to suffer an upset loss in Montreal as the Wimbledon champion and tournament second seed fell 7-6(1) 6-3 to Dane Clara Tauson in the Canadian Open round of 16 on Sunday. The 22-year-old Tauson used her creativity and firepower to frustrate the six-time Grand Slam champion from Poland, staying calm when she was broken in the second set and sealing the win when Swiatek's backhand landed in the net. "It's tough conditions here with the wind but I tried my best to keep my head cool and keep working," Tauson said in her on-court interview. "Even though I got broken in the second set, I was feeling confident and I'm really happy about the win." Swiatek's loss came a day after top seed Coco Gauff was stunned in straight sets by Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko, and both Swiatek and Gauff will look to sharpen their games ahead of the start of the U.S. Open later this month. World number one and U.S. Open defending champion Aryna Sabalenka is not competing in Montreal. Tauson, seeded 16th, will face Madison Keys in the quarterfinals after the big-serving American saved two match points to emerge with a hard-fought 4-6 6-3 7-5 win over Czech Karolina Muchova. Tauson beat Keys in their only previous meeting in Auckland in January. Keys went on to capture her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open later that month. Former world number one Naomi Osaka showed flashes of her past dominance to reach the quarterfinals, needing just 49 minutes to steamroll Anastasija Sevastova 6-1 6-0. It marks the first time the Japanese player has advanced to the last eight of a WTA 1000 event in 19 months, which came in Doha in 2024. "I had a solid plan coming in here, and it happened to work out very well," Osaka said in her on-court interview. Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka will face either American Amanda Anisimova or Ukrainian Elina Svitolina for a place in the semis. De Minaur beats Tiafoe On the men's side of the tournament, which is being played in Toronto, Alex de Minaur used his speedy defense to edge American Frances Tiafoe 6-2 4-6 6-4. The ninth-seeded Australian, who is coming off a victory at the ATP 500 Washington Open last week and who is in search of his first Masters 1000 title, will next face American Ben Shelton, who beat Italy's Flavio Cobolli 6-4 4-6 7-6(1). "It was never going to be easy and Frances has the ability to turn the switch on whenever he wants, so it is always very tricky to put him away," De Minaur said. "I think I battled him, myself, and the conditions and I am happy to sneak away with a win today." Russian sixth seed Andrey Rublev advanced to the quarterfinals of the tournament for the first time after Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina was forced to retire from the match with an injury while trailing 7-6(3) 6-7(2) 3-0. Second-seeded American Taylor Fritz will battle 19th-seeded Czech player Jiri Lehecka later in the evening.
Business Recorder
13 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Swiatek sinks, Osaka shines at Canadian Open
Iga Swiatek was the latest top player to suffer an upset loss in Montreal as the Wimbledon champion and tournament second seed fell 7-6(1) 6-3 to Dane Clara Tauson in the Canadian Open round of 16 on Sunday. The 22-year-old Tauson used her creativity and firepower to frustrate the six-time Grand Slam champion from Poland, staying calm when she was broken in the second set and sealing the win when Swiatek's backhand landed in the net. 'It's tough conditions here with the wind but I tried my best to keep my head cool and keep working,' Tauson said in her on-court interview. 'Even though I got broken in the second set, I was feeling confident and I'm really happy about the win.' Swiatek's loss came a day after top seed Coco Gauff was stunned in straight sets by Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko, and both Swiatek and Gauff will look to sharpen their games ahead of the start of the U.S. Open later this month. World number one and U.S. Open defending champion Aryna Sabalenka is not competing in Montreal. Tauson, seeded 16th, will face Madison Keys in the quarterfinals after the big-serving American saved two match points to emerge with a hard-fought 4-6 6-3 7-5 win over Czech Karolina Muchova. Tauson beat Keys in their only previous meeting in Auckland in January. Keys went on to capture her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open later that month. Former world number one Naomi Osaka showed flashes of her past dominance to reach the quarterfinals, needing just 49 minutes to steamroll Anastasija Sevastova 6-1 6-0. It marks the first time the Japanese player has advanced to the last eight of a WTA 1000 event in 19 months, which came in Doha in 2024. 'I had a solid plan coming in here, and it happened to work out very well,' Osaka said in her on-court interview. Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka will face either American Amanda Anisimova or Ukrainian Elina Svitolina for a place in the semis. De Minaur beats Tiafoe On the men's side of the tournament, which is being played in Toronto, Alex de Minaur used his speedy defense to edge American Frances Tiafoe 6-2 4-6 6-4. The ninth-seeded Australian, who is coming off a victory at the ATP 500 Washington Open last week and who is in search of his first Masters 1000 title, will next face American Ben Shelton, who beat Italy's Flavio Cobolli 6-4 4-6 7-6(1). 'It was never going to be easy and Frances has the ability to turn the switch on whenever he wants, so it is always very tricky to put him away,' De Minaur said. 'I think I battled him, myself, and the conditions and I am happy to sneak away with a win today.' Defending champion Pegula sent packing by Sevastova at Canadian Open, Swiatek through Russian sixth seed Andrey Rublev advanced to the quarterfinals of the tournament for the first time after Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina was forced to retire from the match with an injury while trailing 7-6(3) 6-7(2) 3-0. Second-seeded American Taylor Fritz will battle 19th-seeded Czech player Jiri Lehecka later in the evening.
Express Tribune
20 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Canadian teen Mboko stuns top-seeded Gauff
Victoria Mboko celebrates a victory against Coco Gauff during their fourth round singles match of the WTA 1000 National Bank Open at IGA Stadium. PHOTO: GETTY/AFP Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko took down top-seeded American Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday, thrilling the home crowd as she reached the quarter-finals of the WTA 1000 tournament in Montreal. The 18-year-old wild card saved all four break points she faced, and broke reigning French Open champion Gauff three times on the way to a comprehensive victory in just 62 minutes. "I don't even know what to say still, I was kind of shocked about it all," said Mboko, adding that the support of the home crowd had buoyed her late in the second set. "I just remember in the last game when I was up 5-4, the crowd kind of started cheering even louder, and everything got super noisy," she said. "I kind of used that as more fuel for myself and to pump myself up a little bit more. "I think it helped me tremendously, especially in the last game, since they were so encouraging me. It was just amazing." Mboko started the season ranked 333rd in the world and has worked her way up to 85 but the win over Gauff — who she took to three sets in Rome in May — is the biggest win of her career. "Playing Coco is obviously never easy. She's number two in the world, and it has been such a great opportunity for me to play against someone like her," Mboko said. "I was just happy I kept my composure today and I pulled it through." Gauff, who had a combined 37 double faults as she struggled through her first two matches, was caught flat-footed as the Canadian teen raced through the first set in 25 minutes. Gauff buckled down in the second, but she was unable to convert three break chances in the seventh game -- coming up short on a drop shot and smacking a forehand into the net on the first two. She gained anther chance only to hit a service return long, then flew a volley wide to give Mboko a game point, duly converted when Gauff fired a forehand long. Down 15-30 in the ninth game, Mboko leveled at 30-30 with a blistering backhand, then closed out the hold for a 5-4 lead. Serving to stay in the match, Gauff fell in a quick 0-30 hole and double-faulted to give Mboko a match point, on which the American hit a backhand into the net. "She played a really great match, that's basically it," Gauff said.
