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.

Alexander Zverev, currently the world No. 3 and top seed at the 2025 Canadian Open, shared insights into the players he finds most difficult on court and some of his toughest career moments on the Nothing Major podcast. The German, chasing his second title of the year after winning the ATP 500 in Munich, named Daniil Medvedev as the “most annoying” opponent. Zverev noted, “I mean, lost to him like 78 times, to be honest (laughs).” Despite his higher ranking, Zverev has struggled against Medvedev, holding a 7-13 record and having lost 12 of their last 14 encounters. Reflecting on Medvedev’s gameplay, Zverev added, “He turns into prime Novak Djokovic every time he plays against me and I’m like… ‘I don’t even play that bad. Why am I losing?’”

Ahead of his fourth round match at the Canadian Open, Zverev also discussed Francisco Cerundolo, a player who has troubled him particularly on clay. Zverev admitted, “I have four losses in Madrid in my entire career and two of them came against him. And both straight sets. I just felt like a complete fool, I had no idea what I was doing.” Against Cerundolo, Zverev was 0-3 before their match and had won just one set across those matches.

Zverev also recounted what he considers one of the worst matches he’s ever played, against Daniel Altmaier in Acapulco last year. He described it in candid terms: “Your serve’s not working, your forehand’s terrible — well, my forehand is always terrible — but, my forehand was terrible. My backhand, I played like Steve Johnson with two hands. I couldn’t volley, I just couldn’t do anything. It was such a horrific match.” Regarding his struggles earlier this year, Zverev mentioned a period where his second serve was particularly problematic, leading to numerous double faults per match.

As Zverev competes in the Canadian Open, his reflections offer a telling look at the challenges top players face, both from opponents and in managing their own game under pressure.

Jack Draper, the British No 1 and last year’s US Open semi-finalist, has encountered an injury setback affecting his preparation for this month’s US Open. Following Wimbledon, Draper sustained a left arm injury. While he describes it as nothing serious, he emphasized the need for full recovery to compete effectively in the remainder of the season. Due to the injury, Draper announced that he will miss the upcoming ATP 1000 tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati leading up to Flushing Meadows, stating on X: “After Wimbledon I picked up an injury in my left arm, nothing serious, but I have to make sure it recovers fully for the rest of the season. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to compete in Toronto and Cincinnati… See you in NYC !” Despite missing these key tune-up events, Draper was recently seen back on court at the LTA National Tennis Centre in London, engaging in a hitting session with fellow rising British star Oliver Tarvet. Tarvet, who made an impressive debut at Wimbledon, was eager to train alongside the world No 5. Observers noted Draper’s absence of Nike branding during this practice, sparking speculation about potential changes to his sponsorship arrangements. Rumors suggest Draper’s current Nike deal is ending, adding intrigue to his future endorsements given his increased prominence in men’s tennis. With significant ranking points to defend after his deep run at last year’s US Open, Draper is motivated to regain full fitness for New York. His fans will hope his recovery progresses swiftly to maintain his rising trajectory in the sport.