Rybakina beats Osaka to reach Canadian Open semis against Gauff

Second-seeded Elena Rybakina rallied from a set and a break down to defeat Naomi Osaka 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 in their Canadian Open quarterfinal in Toronto on Tuesday.

The 2022 Wimbledon and 2026 Australian Open champion will face fourth-seeded Coco Gauff in the semifinals after the American advanced when Belinda Bencic withdrew with a hip injury.

In the first tour-level meeting between Osaka and Rybakina, the Japanese star made a fast start, breaking in the opening game and maintaining her advantage to take the first set.

The four-time Grand Slam champion then surged to a 4-2 lead in the second set, but Rybakina rallied and prevailed in a tiebreaker to force a deciding set.

In the third set, Rybakina saved four break points before breaking Osaka’s serve in back-to-back games to seize control and seal the victory in 2 hours, 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 Tuesday, Gauff advanced without striking a ball after Bencic withdrew from their quarterfinal, 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 semifinal 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 semifinal 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.