Toronto Open: Rybakina battles past Osaka to reach semi-finals
Elena Rybakina produced one of the most resilient performances of her season to defeat Naomi Osaka 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 and book her place in the semi-finals of the Toronto WTA 1000 tournament.
The world No. 2 spent much of the contest under pressure, trailing by a set and facing multiple break deficits before eventually turning the match around after 2 hours and 33 minutes.
Rybakina will now face Coco Gauff in the semi-finals, with a place in the final against either Iga Swiatek or Elina Svitolina at stake.
Osaka makes the stronger start
Osaka immediately seized control by breaking serve in the opening game and carried that advantage through the first set. The former world No. 1 saved three break points early and won a high percentage of points behind her first serve.
Rybakina struggled to find rhythm, particularly off the forehand wing, and finished the opener with a high unforced-error count as Osaka closed out the set 6-4.
Rybakina escapes in the second set
The second set appeared to be slipping away when Osaka moved ahead twice by a break and later reached 5-5 in the tiebreak with her serve to come. Rybakina, however, refused to fold. She improved her first-serve percentage, struck more aggressively from the baseline and won the final two points of the tiebreak to force a deciding set.
That escape proved to be the turning point of the match.
Four break points saved in the decider
The most critical game came at 3-2 in the third set, when Osaka earned four break points that would have given her a commanding lead. Rybakina saved all four with a combination of fearless winners and Osaka errors before holding for 3-3.
The momentum immediately shifted. Osaka misfired in the following game, allowing Rybakina to break for 4-3, and the Kazakh star never surrendered the advantage again.
Serving for the match at 5-4, she finished emphatically with two aces, a forehand winner and a final ace to complete the comeback.
Key numbers from the match
- Score: Rybakina def. Osaka 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4
- Duration: 2h 33m
- Aces: Rybakina 15
- Break points saved in final set: 4
- WTA 1000 semi-finals: 14th career semi-final for Rybakina
World No. 1 race still alive
The victory keeps Rybakina firmly in contention for the world No. 1 ranking. Winning the Toronto title would move her significantly closer to the top spot currently held by Aryna Sabalenka.
More immediately, the result extends an impressive run against former world No. 1 players and highlights the mental toughness that has become a defining feature of her biggest victories.
Gauff rematch set for Toronto
Rybakina and Gauff have met only once previously on the WTA Tour, also in Toronto four years ago, with Gauff winning in three sets. Both players have developed considerably since then, making this semi-final one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament.
Rybakina acknowledged the challenge awaiting her, describing Gauff as an outstanding fighter and stressing the importance of recovering quickly after the demanding quarter-final battle.
After surviving Osaka’s sustained pressure, the former Wimbledon champion remains alive in Toronto and has once again demonstrated why she is considered one of the toughest players to beat on the WTA Tour.
SportsLigue
