In an early match at the National Bank Open, Elena Rybakina showed resilience against Naomi Osaka, securing a 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory to advance to the semifinals. Despite a tough start, Rybakina broke Osaka’s serve at 3-3 in the final set, eventually winning at Sobeys Stadium. The match was rescheduled due to Belinda Bencic’s withdrawal because of a hip injury, allowing Coco Gauff to progress to the semifinals without playing.
Rybakina expressed her surprise at turning the match around, emphasizing the challenge it presented. The encounter lasted over two hours, with both players delivering a competitive performance. Rybakina, known for her powerful serves, will now face Gauff in the upcoming semifinal match.
On the other side of the draw, Elina Svitolina of Ukraine will meet Iga Swiatek of Poland in the semifinals after both players secured victories in their quarterfinal matches. The tournament’s final is set for Thursday, with a prize purse of $7.43 million USD at stake.
Meanwhile, in the men’s singles competition, defending champion Ben Shelton advanced to the semifinals after defeating Jakub Mensik. Shelton, who has not dropped a set in the tournament, will face Learner Tien in the semifinal match. The American player expressed satisfaction with his performance and mental strength on the court.
Additionally, Brandon Nakashima secured a spot in the semifinals with a convincing win over Luciano Darderi, joining Shelton and Tien as the American representatives in the men’s semifinals. Rafael Jodar also booked his place in the semifinals by defeating Arthur Fils, setting up a matchup against Nakashima in the next round.