Swiatek sinks, Osaka shines

Iga Swiatek was the latest top player to suffer an upset loss as the Wimbledon champion and tournament second seed fell 7-6(1) 6-3 to Dane Clara Tauson in the Canadian Open Round of 16.

The 22-year-old Tauson used her creativity and firepower to frustrate the six-time Grand Slam champion from Poland, staying calm when she was broken in the second set and sealing the win when Swiatek’s backhand landed in the net. “It’s tough conditions here with the wind but I tried my best to keep my head cool and keep working,” Tauson said.

Swiatek’s loss came a day after top seed Coco Gauff was stunned in straight sets by Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko, and both Swiatek and Gauff will look to sharpen their games ahead of the start of the US Open later this month.

Tauson, seeded 16th, will face Madison Keys in the quarterfinals after the big-serving American saved two match points to emerge with a hard-fought 4-6 6-3 7-5 win over Czech Karolina Muchova. Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka showed flashes of her past dominance to reach the quarterfinals, needing just 49 minutes to steamroll Anastasija Sevastova 6-1 6-0.

On the men’s side in Toronto, Alex de Minaur used his speedy defence to edge American Frances Tiafoe 6-2 4-6 6-4. He will next face American Ben Shelton, who beat Italy’s Flavio Cobolli 6-4 4-6 7-6(1).