Clara Tauson’s recent victory over Iga Swiatek in the fourth round of the Canadian Open marked a significant milestone for the Danish player. Overcoming the sixth seed in straight sets, 7-6(1), 6-3, Tauson exacted revenge for her defeat at Wimbledon just four weeks earlier and ended a four-match losing streak against the former world No. 1.

Tauson earned an early break in the first set but was broken back while serving at 5-4. Undeterred, she claimed the set in a decisive tiebreak. In the second set, the Dane appeared more composed, breaking twice and asserting greater control before closing out the match.

Reflecting on the contest, Tauson said, “I mean, I knew that she was going to keep fighting. Obviously, she’s a champion, and they never stop fighting. I didn’t even feel too bad about getting broken there, because I felt like I was playing the right way.” She added,

“I had a little bit of the upper hand in the end of the set. I think I showed that I can keep cool under pressure.”

This run marks Tauson’s second WTA 1000 quarterfinal appearance, following her finals appearance in Dubai earlier this year. It also marks her second career win over a top-five opponent and fifth over a top-10 player. Among other notable achievements this season, she joins Madison Keys, Mirra Andreeva, Coco Gauff, and Jelena Ostapenko as one of the only players to have defeated both Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek.

With this result, Tauson will reach a career-high ranking of at least No. 17, surpassing her previous best by two positions. “It’s my second win like that in my career and second win like that this year,” she noted, reflecting on her earlier victory over world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in Dubai.

Looking ahead, Tauson will face Madison Keys in the quarterfinals, a player she defeated earlier this year in Auckland with a 6-4, 7-6(7) result. Tauson’s rising confidence and composure under pressure make her a formidable contender moving forward in the tournament.

Naomi Osaka’s collaboration with Tomasz Wiktorowski, former coach of Iga Swiatek, has marked a significant upswing in her performance. The four-time Grand Slam champion recently ended her coaching relationship with Patrick Mouratoglou post her Washington DC Open departure and quickly initiated her partnership with Wiktorowski, starting at the Canadian Open.

Wiktorowski, noted for his successful tenure with Swiatek from 2021 to October 2024, during which the Pole secured three Grand Slam titles and ascended to world No 1, also coached ex-world No 2 Agnieszka Radwanska from 2011 to 2018.

Osaka opened their joint campaign in Montreal with a straight-sets win over Ariana Arseneault, followed by a notable upset over 13th seed Liudmila Samsonova in three sets. This was succeeded by a victory against 22nd seed Jelena Ostapenko in two sets, and a dominant fourth-round showing, where Osaka defeated Anastasija Sevastova 6-1, 6-0.

This marks Osaka’s first quarter-final appearance at a WTA 1000 event since February 2024’s Qatar Open, highlighting Wiktorowski’s immediate impact.

Reflecting on her coach after beating Samsonova, Osaka stated, “I think with personality, I was a little nervous because he seems a little stern but he’s actually kind of funny. He’ll randomly say a joke that I wasn’t expecting or something like that. I like him a lot.

“I know that we’ve only played two matches, but he seems very decisive with what he wants. And I think that that makes it very clear for me.”

Looking ahead, Osaka faces Elina Svitolina for a semi-final berth. The 26-year-old is regaining confidence following recent setbacks at Wimbledon and Washington, DC, expressing satisfaction with her current form and approach: “I am very happy, without a doubt. I think today was faster than I expected, but I am very pleased with how the strategy went, and I am eager to play my next match.”

Ranked No 49, she is poised to climb 15 spots in the WTA rankings after this run. Osaka candidly shared, “I had a very tough match at Wimbledon, and that made me rethink things a bit. Then, of course, I went to Washington and had a good match there. I try to accumulate wins on hardcourt. Right now, I have quite a bit of confidence in my game.

“I am allowing myself to enjoy it, and I think it’s a bit ironic for me because it’s not easy for me to describe, but I don’t desire it with such intensity, which is a bit strange to say.

“I suppose I am allowing myself to see what the results of my training and all that are. I am happy with where my tennis will take me, whatever happens.”

Naomi Osaka delivered a commanding performance in Montreal, overpowering Anastasija Sevastova in just 49 minutes to reach the quarter-finals at the Canadian Open. The four-time Grand Slam champion surged ahead after losing only one service game early, winning eleven consecutive games to seal the victory.

Osaka’s resurgence has coincided with her collaboration with Tomasz Wiktorowski, former coach of Iga Swiatek, following her recent split from Patrick Mouratoglou. Former world No. 4 and coach Brad Gilbert noted her improved form on Twitter, stating, “Interesting best Double Osaka has looked for a while with Iga Pop (Iga Swiatek) old coach.”

In her post-match press conference, Osaka reflected on her current goals, saying, “It’s weird. I talked to my dad, and he said, like, Just being healthy and happy is a form of success. But yeah, I mean, definitely, of course I would want to win Slams, of course I would want to be in the top 10, but I think I need to pace myself and go for the mini goals, and they’ll eventually turn into the big goals.” She views reaching the quarter-finals as a step toward deeper runs in tournaments.

Starting the event ranked 49th, Osaka’s win earned her 215 ranking points and a climb to 34th in the live rankings. This boost enhances her chances of being seeded at the upcoming US Open. She is set to face world No. 13 Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals, with a win potentially pushing her into the top 30.

Svitolina, who advanced by defeating Amanda Anisimova, acknowledged the challenge ahead: “Another big striker. It was a good practice for me today to play against Amanda. For now it’s all about recovery, resting my mind and body, and being ready for a big battle.” She praised her own performance and physical readiness against Anisimova, underscoring the demanding nature of their impending match.

Osaka’s decisive victory in Montreal underscores her steady return to form as she navigates the path back up the rankings and towards contention in major events.