Elena Rybakina battled through a tough three-set match against Dayana Yastremska at the WTA Canadian Open in Montreal, ultimately securing her place in the quarter-finals. The ninth-seeded Rybakina, currently ranked No. 12, overcame Yastremska with a score of 5-7, 6-2, 7-5.
The match was a hard-fought contest, with Yastremska, seeded 30th, putting up a strong challenge. Rybakina had to rally after dropping the first set. She squandered a break lead in the opening set and was broken while serving to stay in it. Rybakina rebounded in the second set, taking it convincingly. In the final set, Rybakina broke Yastremska late to take a 6-5 lead. In the final game, Yastremska saved three match points and earned a break point, but Rybakina erased it with a brave second-serve ace.
Rybakina displayed composure in the crucial moments, securing the decisive break to win. She then wasted three match points, and saved a break point against her, before finally securing the victory in a tight and tense final game. Rybakina won $50,297 after the match, bringing her total earnings in the tournament to $107,000. If she wins her next match, Rybakina will add $99,100 to her earnings, totaling $206,100. This victory also improves Rybakina's head-to-head record against Yastremska to 2-0.
Rybakina will face Marta Kostyuk in the quarter-finals. Kostyuk, the 24th seed, advanced by defeating McCartney Kessler in three sets. Kostyuk has been in good form, with a couple of wins against tough opponents. She overcame former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova and Daria Kasatkina, before her match with Kessler. Rybakina has won two of their three previous meetings. Their most recent match was in the final of the Stuttgart Open 2024, which Rybakina won.
Rybakina reached the semi-finals of the Omnium Banque Nationale in Montreal in 2023. She missed last year's edition in Toronto due to illness.
Meanwhile, the local crowd in Montreal is also excited about the match between Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko and top seed Coco Gauff of the United States. Mboko is the only Canadian singles player remaining in the event.
