Tauson Stuns Swiatek; Osaka Dominates to Reach Quarter-Finals
In a surprising turn of events at the WTA 1000 tournament in Montreal, Clara Tauson eliminated reigning Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek, claiming victory with a score of 7-6 (7-1), 6-3. This win marks a significant moment for Tauson, who avenged her earlier loss to Swiatek at Wimbledon. The match unfolded amidst challenging windy conditions, which both players had to navigate.
Tauson expressed her satisfaction with the performance, stating, “It’s tough conditions here with the wind but I tried my best to keep my head cool and keep working.” Her confidence was evident, particularly after recovering from a break in the second set. Swiatek struggled with her form, managing only one point in the first-set tiebreak, which came from a double fault by Tauson.
This defeat for Swiatek follows another upset just a day earlier, when top seed Coco Gauff lost in straight sets to Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko. With both Swiatek and Gauff eliminated, the competition in Montreal has opened up significantly.
Tauson’s victory sets up a quarter-final clash against Madison Keys, who fought hard to defeat Karolina Muchova 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. Their previous encounter in Auckland saw Tauson as the victor, but Keys has since captured her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open earlier this year.
Osaka Reclaims Form in Montreal
Former world number one Naomi Osaka showcased her formidable talent as she advanced to the quarter-finals, decisively defeating Anastasija Sevastova with a dominant scoreline of 6-1, 6-0. This marks Osaka’s first appearance in the last eight of a WTA 1000 event in 19 months, the last being in Doha in 2024.
Osaka credited her success to a solid game plan, stating, “I had a solid plan coming in here, and it happened to work out very well.” Currently collaborating with Tomasz Wiktorowski, Swiatek’s former coach, Osaka appears to be rediscovering her competitive edge following her split with renowned coach Patrick Mouratoglou.
In the next round, Osaka will face Elina Svitolina, who dispatched Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova with a 6-4, 6-1 victory. The matchup promises to be an exciting contest as both players aim for a place in the semi-finals.
Toronto Highlights: Shelton and Fritz Advance
Meanwhile, in Toronto, fourth-seeded Ben Shelton produced a thrilling comeback against 13th-seeded Flavio Cobolli, winning 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-1). Shelton acknowledged the difficulty of the match, stating, “I was down and out, being a break down in the third… I gave myself a second chance.”
Shelton’s next opponent will be ninth-seeded Alex de Minaur, who defeated Frances Tiafoe with a score of 6-2, 4-6, 6-4. Additionally, second-seeded Taylor Fritz triumphed in a late-night thriller against 19th-seeded Jiri Lehecka, winning 7-6 (7-4), 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-5). This victory marks Fritz’s consistent performance, reaching the final eight at every Masters 1000 event.
As the tournament progresses, fans look forward to more exciting matches, showcasing the best of tennis talent on both the WTA and ATP circuits. The action continues live on Sky Sports, offering extensive coverage of the events leading up to the US Open in New York.
