Denmark’s Clara Tauson delivered a stunning upset by defeating Iga Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion, in the round of 16 at the WTA 1000 event in Montreal. Tauson avenged her earlier defeat to Swiatek at Wimbledon, winning the match with a score of 7-6 (7-1), 6-3. This loss for Swiatek follows the earlier elimination of top seed Coco Gauff, who fell to Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko in straight sets.
In her post-match interview, Tauson acknowledged the challenging conditions, stating, “It’s tough conditions here with the wind but I tried my best to keep my head cool and keep working.” Despite facing a break in the second set, Tauson maintained her confidence throughout, successfully progressing to the quarter-finals where she will face Madison Keys.
The match showcased a significant shift in momentum. Swiatek managed just one point in the first-set tiebreak, which came from a double fault by Tauson. Although Swiatek briefly rallied to break back in the second set, she could not maintain her serve, allowing Tauson to secure the victory.
Osaka Returns to Form
In another highlight, former world number one Naomi Osaka demonstrated her return to form by overpowering Anastasija Sevastova with a decisive 6-1, 6-0 victory. This win marks Osaka’s first appearance in the quarter-finals of a WTA 1000 event in 19 months, her last being in Doha in 2024.
Osaka expressed satisfaction with her performance, stating, “I had a solid plan coming in here, and it happened to work out very well.” Currently working with Tomasz Wiktorowski, Swiatek’s former coach, Osaka appears to be regaining her competitive edge. She will next challenge Elina Svitolina, who advanced after defeating Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova 6-4, 6-1.
Toronto Tournament Updates
Meanwhile, in Toronto, fourth-seeded Ben Shelton rallied to secure a hard-fought victory against 13th-seeded Flavio Cobolli, winning 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-1). “Really difficult match. I was down and out, being a break down in the third,” Shelton remarked, highlighting the intensity of the contest. He will face ninth-seeded Alex de Minaur, who triumphed over Frances Tiafoe with a score of 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.
In addition, Andrey Rublev reached the quarter-finals for the first time after Alejandro Davidovich Fokina was forced to retire due to injury while trailing in the match. The second-seeded Taylor Fritz also advanced, overcoming 19th-seeded Jiri Lehecka in a thrilling late-night encounter, finishing with a score of 7-6 (7-4), 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-5). This victory marks Fritz’s progression to the final eight of every Masters 1000 event.
As the competition intensifies, fans can look forward to exciting matchups in both Montreal and Toronto, with top players vying for vital ranking points and momentum leading into future tournaments.
