Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina (2) defeated Russia's Liudmila Samsonova (47) 6:4, 4:6, 6:4 in three sets to reach the quarterfinals of the Canadian Open tennis tournament. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
Rybakina's rivalry with Samsonova on court is peculiar. Until 2024, Liudmila had won exclusively in their head-to-head meetings, doing so four times. Then Elena's turn came, winning two consecutive matches. The last one was last year on the clay of Strasbourg. All other encounters were on hard courts. The current one was no exception.
In the first set against Samsonova, Elena lost her serve three times. Fortunately, she then broke her opponent four times. In the tenth game at 5:4 0:40, Rybakina won five consecutive points, the game, and the set – 6:4.
The second set was the quintessence of Rybakina's current game. Making unforgivably frequent errors, generously gifting Liudmila point after point, Elena occasionally delighted with spectacular shots. However, they were only enough for 4:6. After losing her serve in the fifth game, the Kazakhstani never got it back.
In the decisive set, our tennis player was down 0:3 with two breaks. However, after fixing her serve, she not only came back but also finished the set strongly. A hard-fought victory in a marathon (2 hours 49 minutes) match – 6:4, 4:6, 6:4. Aces count – 11:1. Double faults – 6:9. Total points won – 112:105.
Rybakina's quarterfinal opponent will be determined in the match between Japan's Naomi Osaka (13) and Canada's Leylah Fernandez (34).
Meanwhile, major upsets are happening in Toronto. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka lost in the round of 16 to Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova (19) – 6:7 (3:7), 6:4, 4:6. American Jessica Pegula (3) followed the Belarusian's wrong path, losing at the same stage to Russia's Diana Shnaider (17) – 3:6, 3:6. Earlier, Russia's Mirra Andreeva withdrew from the competition. The world No. 5 lost to the aforementioned Fernandez – 1:6, 4:6.
In doubles, Kazakhstan's Anna Danilina (6) and Serbia's Aleksandra Krunic (5) failed to take revenge on the Estonian-Mexican tandem of Ingrid Neel (81)/Giuliana Olmos (37) for their Wimbledon defeat.
The Canadian Open tennis tournament dates back to 1881. That was when its first predecessor, a men's tournament, was held. And 11 years later, a women's tournament followed.
In even years, the women's tournament is held in Toronto and the men's in Montreal. Since 2011, the hard-court events, part of the US Open Series, have been held simultaneously.
The current WTA-1000 tournament in Toronto is officially named National Bank Open Presented by Rogers. The prize fund is $7.4 million.
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.
Defending champion Victoria Mboko is missing this year's home tournament due to injury. In the 2025 semifinal, the Canadian defeated Rybakina 1:6, 7:5, 7:6 (7:4), and in the final beat Osaka 2:6, 6:4, 6:1.