An early start time didn’t rattle Elena Rybakina during her match against Naomi Osaka at the National Bank Open on Tuesday. After a slow beginning, Rybakina fought back to secure a 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory over Osaka, advancing to the semifinals of the WTA Tour event. The second-seeded player from Kazakhstan made a crucial break at 3-3 in the final set and maintained her lead to clinch the win at Sobeys Stadium.
Following Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic’s withdrawal due to a hip injury, Rybakina’s match was rescheduled earlier than planned. This change led to a thrilling two-hour and 33-minute battle between Rybakina and Osaka, with Rybakina eventually emerging victorious.
Despite the unexpected match timing, Rybakina expressed her difficulty in adjusting to the late-day light due to her previous day session matches. She credited her perseverance in turning the match around and now looks forward to facing Coco Gauff in the upcoming semifinals.
In other matches, Elina Svitolina of Ukraine and Iga Swiatek of Poland secured their spots in the semifinals after winning their quarterfinal matches. The tournament’s final is scheduled for Thursday, with players vying for the $7.43-million US prize.
Bencic, the 12th seed, expressed regret at not being able to compete due to her injury after playing through her previous matches with significant taping around her left thigh. Meanwhile, Osaka, the 11th seed, had a strong start but couldn’t maintain her lead, allowing Rybakina to seize control and secure her place in the semifinals.
In the men’s matches, defending champion Ben Shelton advanced to the semifinals after defeating Jakub Mensik. Shelton, who remains undefeated in the tournament, will face Learner Tien in the upcoming semifinal match. The United States had a strong showing, with Brandon Nakashima also securing a spot in the semifinals.
Rafael Jodar of Spain and Arthur Fils of France faced off, with Jodar emerging victorious to set up a semifinal clash with Nakashima. This will mark the first Masters 1000 semifinal appearance for both players.