An early start time didn’t unsettle Elena Rybakina during her match against Naomi Osaka at the National Bank Open on Tuesday. Rybakina made a remarkable comeback to secure a 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory, breaking Osaka’s serve at a crucial moment in the final set.
The match was moved up due to Belinda Bencic’s withdrawal because of a hip injury, allowing Coco Gauff to advance to the semifinals with a walkover. Rybakina and Osaka engaged in a thrilling two-hour, 33-minute battle that saw Rybakina struggle initially with the late-day light conditions.
Despite the challenges, Rybakina managed to turn the match in her favor, setting up a semifinal clash with Gauff. Rybakina acknowledged Gauff’s fighting spirit and anticipated a tough match ahead.
In another semifinal matchup, Elina Svitolina of Ukraine will face Iga Swiatek of Poland, both securing wins in their quarterfinal matches. The tournament’s final is scheduled for Thursday with a prize fund of $7.43 million.
Meanwhile, in the men’s singles event, defending champion Ben Shelton advanced to the semifinals after a convincing victory over Jakub Mensik. Shelton, who remains undefeated in the tournament, expressed satisfaction with his performance and mental focus on court.
Shelton’s next challenge will be against fellow American Learner Tien in the semifinals, while Brandon Nakashima also secured a spot in the semis with a dominant win. Rafael Jodar and Nakashima will face off in the first Masters 1000 semifinal for both players.