World No. 2 Elena Rybakina defeated American Ann Li (31) 6:2, 7:5 in the third round of the Canadian Open tennis championship. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

After a 31-day break from active tennis and a victory over Australian Daria Kasatkina (61) upon return, Kazakhstan's No. 1 won her second match at the Toronto super tournament.

First meeting between Rybakina and Li

The 26-year-old American Ann Li practices powerful attacking tennis, but tournament fate had not brought her together with Rybakina before. Without delay, the Kazakhstani player got down to business without reconnaissance and took a 4:1 lead with two breaks.

Li managed to immediately take Elena's serve, but our Snow Queen responded in kind. Finishing the first set without a single ace, Rybakina took her due with sweeping combinations and unreturnable shots near the lines – 6:2.

Stubborn fight in the second set

The fight in the second set was more stubborn. After losing her serve to zero in the eighth game, our tennis player made a reverse break in the ninth. And at 5:5, another one. Confidently serving for the match, Rybakina stopped the timer at 1 hour 30 minutes on the first match point. 6:2, 7:5. Aces – 2:0, total points won – 70:54.

Rybakina's opponent in the 1/8 finals

Rybakina's opponent in the 1/8 finals will be determined in the match between Australian Maya Joint (48) and Russian Lyudmila Samsonova (47).

Danilina and Krunic suffer defeat

In a parallel match, Kazakhstani Anna Danilina (6) paired with Serbian Aleksandra Krunic (5) failed to take revenge on the Estonian-Mexican tandem of Ingrid Neel (81)/Giuliana Olmos (37) for the Wimbledon fiasco.

The opponents proved once again that tennis is played not by rankings. In 1 hour 47 minutes, Neel and Olmos won – 6:4, 7:5.

Tournament history

The Canadian Open tennis championship dates back to 1881. It was then that its first predecessor, the men's tournament, took place. And 11 years later, the women's tournament followed.

In even years, the women's tournament is held in Toronto, the men's in Montreal. Since 2011, the hard-court competitions included in the US Open Series have been held simultaneously.

Current tournament

The current WTA-1000 tournament in Toronto is fully named National Bank Open Presented by Rogers. The prize fund is $7.4 million.

Famous tournament winners

Over the years, the tournament has been won by Americans Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Jennifer Capriati, Monica Seles, Serena Williams. Also German Steffi Graf, Swiss Martina Hingis, Belgians Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters, Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo and other stars.

Current champion

Current champion Victoria Mboko is missing this year's home tournament due to injury. In the 2025 semifinal, the Canadian defeated Elena Rybakina 1:6, 7:5, 7:6 (7:4), and in the final, Japanese Naomi Osaka – 2:6, 6:4, 6:1.