Naomi Osaka pushed Elena Rybakina to a deciding set at the 2026 Canadian Open on Tuesday, only to see the world No. 2 close out a 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 quarterfinal win in 2 hours, 33 minutes at the Toronto WTA event.
Elena Rybakina Launches WTA Toronto Comeback Against Naomi Osaka
Osaka broke in the opening game in Toronto, and she rode that lead through the first set in 42 minutes. Rybakina steadied in the second to dominate the tiebreak. In the decider, she broke for 4-3 and sealed the match with a second-serve ace, winning all 18 of her first-serve points in the final set.
"Super happy. It was a very difficult match," Rybakina said after the win. "I'm glad I could turn it around, I don't yet know how, but I think my serve helped me a little bit."
Coco Gauff now awaits her in the semifinal after Belinda Bencic withdrew from their match with a hip injury. A title run would pull Rybakina within four points of No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. On the other side of the draw, Iga Świątek meets Elina Svitolina.
Osaka, now ranked No. 13, has not lifted a trophy since the 2021 Australian Open. She'll hope to break that streak at the upcoming US Open.
