Reigning Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina advanced to the fourth round of the WTA Toronto Masters on Friday while French Open winner Mirra Andreeva was eliminated by Canada’s Leylah Fernandez. World number two Rybakina from Kazakhstan defeated American 28th seed Ann Li 6-2, 7-5 in 90 minutes, winning five of six break chances while saving two of four against her. Rybakina, who also won the 2022 Wimbledon title, advanced to a last-16 meeting with Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova, who outlasted Australian Maya Joint 7-5, 6-7 (3/7), 6-2.
Background
“She wasn’t going to give away some easy balls. “That’s where I come back to. I know I can do it. “She has a great attitude. She’s consistent and she will fight. She’s kind of like a bulldog.
“The key for me was to stay positive, stay strong, and to keep being patient,” Fernandez said. “I’ve trained a lot growing up in being consistent and hitting like 100 balls in a row,” Fernandez said. “My main focus today was let me try and close it out,” said Gauff, who has not dropped a set in Canada. “It was all pretty good for me,” the 13th-ranked Osaka said. The Japanese star, who has never faced Rybakina, said sound groundstrokes were key.
Fernandez last beat a player ranked so high when she downed fourth-rated Jessica Pegula on her way to last year’s WTA Washington title.
