Sawt Falasteen - Rybakina survives scare as Gauff, Osaka race into Toronto quarters

Kazakhstan's Rybakina recovered from 0-3 and two breaks down in the final set to beat Liudmila Samsonova 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 before American Gauff swept aside another Russian, teenage qualifier Alina Korneeva, 6-3, 6-1 in Toronto.

Rybakina will face a quarter-final against four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, who eliminated home hero Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-4.

Gauff reached the last eight in Canada for the first time since 2023 and will come up against either Swiss 12th seed Belinda Bencic or Alexandra Eala, the rapidly rising 21-year-old Filipina who won her first WTA title last Monday in Washington.

"My main focus today was let me try and close it out," said Gauff, who has not dropped a set in Canada.

"Probably not the way I should be thinking but it worked today.

"I'm proud of how the last three matches have gone and just knowing if I have to go the distance I'm ready but obviously would prefer to cut it short if I can."

Osaka broke in the seventh game of each set to advance in 82 minutes.

"It was all pretty good for me," the 13th-ranked Osaka said. "She has a great attitude. She's consistent and she will fight. She's kind of like a bulldog."

The Japanese star, who has never faced Rybakina, said sound groundstrokes were key.

"When I feel comfortable or at least confident in myself knowing I can run things down, I loosen up a lot," Osaka said.

"I was catching my service toss a couple times. Hopefully in the next match I don't do that as often.

"I need to be confident in myself, execute what I can and at the end of the day just try my best and whatever happens happens."

I.Yassin--SF-PST