A THREE-SET TURNAROUND
Elena Rybakina defeated Naomi Osaka 4–6, 7–6(5), 6–4 in the National Bank Open quarter-finals in Toronto. The match lasted two hours and 33 minutes and sent the world No. 2 into the last four of the WTA 1000 event.
Osaka seized early control by breaking in the opening game and protected that advantage to take the first set 6–4. She moved a break ahead twice in the second set too, but Rybakina recovered on both occasions and forced a tie-break.
At 5–5, Osaka had two serves to come, yet Rybakina won the final two points to level the contest. It was the moment that shifted the match after a set in which both players had repeated chances to take command.
FOUR BREAK POINTS SAVED
Rybakina faced her greatest danger in the deciding set. With Osaka leading 3–2, she had to defend four break points. Rybakina saved all four, held for 3–3 and then immediately broke her opponent to move 4–3 ahead.
Osaka remained in touch until 5–4, but Rybakina closed with a powerful serving sequence. Her 15th ace sealed victory on the second match point.
According to the WTA Tour, Rybakina finished with 72 unforced errors, her highest total in a match this season. Her improving serve and ability to escape the critical moments nevertheless kept her in the contest long enough to complete the comeback.
GAUFF AWAITS IN THE SEMI-FINALS
Rybakina will face Coco Gauff in the semi-finals. It will be only their second WTA Tour meeting; Gauff won the first, also in Toronto, in three sets four years ago.
This is Rybakina’s 14th WTA 1000 semi-final and her third of 2026 after Indian Wells and Miami. The winner of Rybakina–Gauff will play either Iga Swiatek or Elina Svitolina in the final.
REPORTING BASIS
ON MEDIA.AL wrote this article from scratch using the WTA Tour’s official report published on 12 August 2026. The result, duration, statistics and next-round matchup are drawn from the WTA’s official coverage.
