Rybakina rallies past Osaka to reach Canadian Open semi-finals

Elena Rybakina recovered from a set and a break down to beat Naomi Osaka 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 in a Canadian Open quarter-final in Toronto on 12 August 2026. The match lasted two hours and 33 minutes.

Rybakina committed 72 unforced errors, the most she has made in a match this season, and holds the 2022 Wimbledon and 2026 Australian Open titles. "I was just trying to fight," said Rybakina. "The first game was really tough because it cost me the set, and then in the second I was just trying to stay closer to the score, even if I'm losing. I'm super happy that I won this match."

Japan's Osaka broke Rybakina in the opening game and converted that momentum to take the first set in Toronto. In the second set Osaka had a break retrieved but then broke again to move 4-2 ahead before Rybakina began to turn the match.

Rybakina won three straight games to draw level in the second set and prevailed in the tie-break to force a deciding set. The tie-break finished 7-5 in Rybakina's favour.

In the decider Osaka had four break points when she led 3-2 but failed to convert any; Rybakina held serve and then broke Osaka in the next game. Rybakina closed out the victory by serving for the match and sealing it with a 15th ace.

Osaka said she was withdrawing from the Cincinnati Open, the last tournament before the US Open, because of "fatigue". Coco Gauff progressed to the semi-finals after Belinda Bencic withdrew from their match with a hip injury.

Iga Swiatek reached the last four with a 6-2 6-1 win over Diana Shnaider, while Elina Svitolina beat Ekaterina Alexandrova 3-6 6-0 6-3. Sabalenka and Norrie exited the Canadian Open in the last 16.

Rybakina will play Coco Gauff in one semi-final, with the other semi-final to be contested between Iga Swiatek and Elina Svitolina.