Rybakina tops Osaka at NBO Toronto, Gauff advances on walkover after Bencic withdraws
An early match time didn't faze Elena Rybakina on Tuesday at the National Bank Open. Neither did a strong start by her opponent.
Rybakina came back for a 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 win over Naomi Osaka to reach the semifinals at the WTA Tour event. The second seed from Kazakhstan broke Osaka's serve at 3-3 in the deciding set and held on for the win at Sobeys Stadium.
"It was a very difficult match," Rybakina said. "I honestly don't know how I managed to turn it around."
The match started earlier than planned after Switzerland's Belinda Bencic pulled out due to a hip injury. Fourth-seeded Coco Gauff advanced to the semifinals via walkover.
Organizers confirmed the withdrawal shortly before the evening match was set to begin on centre court.
The Rybakina-Osaka match was moved up into the time-slot and the players delivered with a back-and-forth battle that lasted two hours 33 minutes.
Rybakina played her previous matches during the day sessions and had hoped for a longer pre-match practice session to adjust to the late-day light.
The hard-serving six-footer will meet Gauff in the semifinals on Wednesday.
"She's a great fighter," Rybakina said. "I know it's going to be a very difficult match."
The other matchup pits ninth-seeded Elina Svitolina of Ukraine against seventh-seeded Iga Swiatek of Poland. Both players won their quarterfinal matches on Monday.
The final was scheduled for Thursday at the $7.43-million US tournament.
The 12th-seeded Bencic, who won here in 2015, played with significant taping around her left thigh in a fourth-round win over Alexandra Eala of the Philippines on Sunday.
"I am really sorry to not be able to compete tonight," Bencic said in a statement. "This is an amazing tournament and I was really looking forward to playing in front of the great fans here in Toronto.
The 11th-seeded Osaka broke serve in the match's opening game and was two points away from victory in the second-set tiebreaker before Rybakina pulled even.
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