Gauff reaches Toronto semis after Bencic withdraws

Second seed Elena Rybakina fought back from a set and a break down to prevail 4-6 7-6(5) 6-4 in ​her Canadian Open quarter-final against Naomi Osaka in Toronto on Tuesday.

Rybakina, ‌the 2022 Wimbledon and 2026 Australian Open champion, will meet fourth seed Coco Gauff for a place in the final after the American's opponent, Belinda Bencic, withdrew due to a hip injury.

In ​the first tour-level meeting between Osaka and Rybakina, the Japanese player looked to ​be cruising to victory after breaking in the opening game and ⁠holding that advantage to pocket the first set.

The four-time Grand Slam champion then ​surged to a 4-2 lead in the second set, but Rybakina rallied and came ​out on top in a tiebreaker to force the decider.

In the third set, the Kazakh successfully defended four break points before breaking Osaka's serve in back-to-back games to seize control and seal victory ​in two hours and 33 minutes.

"This first game of the match was really ​tough because it cost me the set," Rybakina said. "In the second I was just trying to ‌stay closer ⁠to the score, even if I'm losing.

"It's rare when you don't play some players for so many years you're on tour. She's a great champion. She's a fighter. I knew it would be a tough match."

Earlier on Tuesday, Gauff advanced without striking a ​ball after Bencic ​withdrew from their quarter-final, ⁠giving the American more time to fine-tune her game ahead of the U.S. Open.

The 2023 U.S. Open champion is into the 16th WTA ​1000 semi-final of her career as the 22-year-old chases her ​first title of ⁠the year.

Gauff finished runner-up in Miami and Rome before her Wimbledon campaign ended in a tight semi-final defeat. She has introduced new tactical elements to her game and has looked strong ⁠in Toronto, ​where she has not dropped a set.

The only ​previous meeting between Gauff and Rybakina also came in Toronto, where the American won in three sets in ​2022.


-Reuters