MONTREAL — The stage is set at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers, and the competition has never been more thrilling!
In a shocking twist, No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek fell to No. 16 Clara Tauson with a score of 7-6 (1), 6-3, while No. 5 Amanda Anisimova faced a 6-4, 6-1 defeat against No. 10 Elina Svitolina. As a result, none of the top five seeds have reached the quarterfinals, leaving a wide-open field for the WTA Tour 1000 event!
The unexpected outcomes have reshaped the tournament landscape, as top-ranked players including No. 1 Coco Gauff, Wimbledon champion Swiatek, two-time defending NBO champion Jessica Pegula, No. 4 Mirra Andreeva, and Anisimova have all exited the competition early.
This thrilling turn of events provides an incredible opportunity for several quarterfinalists, including 18-year-old Canadian sensation Victoria Mboko, who made headlines by defeating Gauff, and the remarkable Naomi Osaka.
The four-time Grand Slam winner, who took a break from the tour this year to embrace motherhood, showcased her prowess by dominating Anastasija Sevastova with a commanding 6-1, 6-0 victory, marking her first WTA 1000 or Grand Slam quarterfinal in 19 months.
This stunning match, lasting just 49 minutes and 25 seconds, ranked as the second fastest since 2018, just slightly longer than the exhilarating 2023 Montreal final.
Osaka, candid about her mental health journey, expressed a newfound sense of tranquility regarding her performance.
“Honestly, I’m allowing myself to enjoy the experience. It’s ironic because I don’t want it as intensely, which is a strange thing to admit,” she shared.
“I’m simply focused on gauging the results of my practice without too much pressure. I’m excited about what my tennis can offer moving forward, no matter what the outcome.”
However, she isn’t settling for mediocrity.
“My dad reminded me that being healthy and happy is its own success, and while I agree, I definitely want more,” added Osaka, who will face Svitolina in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.
“Of course, I aspire to win Slams and be in the top 10, but pacing myself towards smaller goals feels like the way to go. Reaching the quarterfinals here is a step towards the semifinals and finals, and I plan to approach it that way.”
On the other hand, Tauson sought redemption against Swiatek after suffering a heavy defeat at Wimbledon last month, where Swiatek dominated with a 6-4, 6-1 scoreline.
“This is my second victory against a top-five player in my career and my second this year (after defeating Aryna Sabalenka in Dubai). It’s incredibly rewarding and reflects the hard work I’ve committed to,” expressed Tauson.
Tauson is set to face No. 6 Madison Keys, who battled through two match points to secure a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Karolina Muchova in the opening match on Sunday.
“I felt a sense of freedom once I was serving for the match, knowing I was already match-point down. It pushed me to go for it, playing without any pressure,” Keys noted.
This marks the third time this season that Keys has triumphed after facing match points. Her first was during the 2025 Australian Open semifinals against Swiatek, which led her to claim her first Grand Slam title.
“Ideally, I’d prefer to win matches without being at risk of match points,” she said with a smile. “But facing adversity and overcoming it builds confidence for the crucial moments. Even if I didn’t showcase my best tennis throughout the matches, I still managed to prevail when it mattered most, which is a significant morale booster.”
Mboko will take on unseeded Jessica Bouzas Maneiro from Spain in the second quarterfinal on Monday.
The first quarterfinal will feature No. 24 Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine against No. 9 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan.
