Rybakina, Gauff reach Canadian Open quarterfinals

World number two Elena Rybakina and fourth-ranked Coco Gauff booked places in the Canadian Open quarterfinals on Sunday in Toronto, each coming through their round-of-16 matches in straight-forward fashion on the scoreboard, if not always in the flow of play.

Rybakina progressed after a three-set win over Liudmila Samsonova, while Gauff continued her run without dropping a set by dismissing qualifier Alina Korneeva. Their results kept the top end of the draw intact as the event moved into its final-eight stage.

Rybakina rallies past Samsonova to stay on course

Rybakina defeated Samsonova 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, sealing the match after facing pressure in the deciding set. Officials said the contest turned on Rybakina’s ability to respond when her service games came under repeated threat late in the match.

The comeback inside the third set stood out. Rybakina trailed 0-3 and was down two breaks of serve before recovering to close out the win, keeping her tournament bid alive and pushing her into a quarterfinal that now carries major billing.

Osaka sets up quarterfinal meeting with Rybakina

Rybakina’s next opponent will be four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka. Osaka advanced by beating Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-4, finishing in 82 minutes, according to match details provided from the session.

Osaka’s edge came from key returns at identical moments in each set, as she broke serve in the seventh game of both. The pairing with Rybakina now shapes as one of the tournament’s headline quarterfinals as the field narrows toward the Canadian Open finish in Toronto.

Gauff continues without a set dropped, Bencic awaits Gauff moved on with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Korneeva, keeping her run efficient and extending a tournament streak in which she has not conceded a set. After the match, Gauff said she was encouraged by her recent level and by the sense that she can handle longer matches if required.

"I'm proud of how the last three matches have gone and just knowing if I have to go the distance I'm ready, but obviously would prefer to cut it short if I can."

Her quarterfinal opponent will be 14th-ranked Belinda Bencic, who reached the final eight by beating Alexandra Eala in 73 minutes. Match statistics showed Bencic’s serve held up throughout, with 72.4 percent of first-serve points won, a platform that helped her control the tempo.

Quarterfinals tighten the race for the Toronto title

With Rybakina-Osaka and Gauff-Bencic confirmed, the next round will further compress the draw as contenders push toward the Canadian Open conclusion. The immediate uncertainty now shifts to whether the remaining players can carry their serving and returning patterns into higher-pressure matches, where a small swing can decide sets.