A couple of players had to play two matches on Friday at the Canadian Open in Montreal. On Thursday, rain forced the postponement of two third-round matches which meant the winners of these two matches would’ve had to play their rescheduled match as well as their quarter-final on the following day.
Eventually, Liudmila Samsonova was the player who made the most of this as she won both matches she played to advance to the semi-finals. Samsonova first upset Aryna Sabalenka in their round-of-16 meeting. Seeded 15th, Samsonova got the better of the world’s second-best player, 7-6(2), 4-6, 6-2 just five minutes shy of three hours.
After the match, Sabalenka, who’d previously had a chance of going past Iga Swiatek in the WTA singles rankings, complimented her opponent for her effort. She said, “She played unbelievable tennis. Physically, I wasn’t ready to play at my highest level.
I’m still happy with the fighting spirit I showed. Overall, great week. Amazing support. I’m disappointed I’m not able to enjoy this atmosphere again”. Later, Samsonova posted another upset. This time, over 12th seed Belinda Bencic.
Needed an hour and 49 minutes to enter the semis, Samsonova won in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.This is the first time in her career she’s made it this far in a tournament of this significance.
Canadian Open: Iga Swiatek shows her mien, again!
The world no. 18 will take on the third-ranked and third-seeded Elena Rybakina in the following round. Rybakina won a marathon contest of her own against 10th seed Daria Kasatkina. The latter won the first set but the 2022 Championships winner finished the day with a 5-7, 7-5, 7-6(8) victory after almost three hours and 30 minutes of play.
Meanwhile, in the top half, Iga Swiatek made it to yet another WTA 1000 semi-final. Only this time she was tested in earnest by Danielle Collins. The American fought for her chances and pushed the match into the third set before the 22-year-old Pole could triumph, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.Swiatek’s opponent in the semi-finals will be a familiar face in Jessica Pegula.
The fourth seed got past sixth seed Coco Gauff in a three-set battle of her own. After almost two-and-half-hours, Pegula won the American derby, 6-2, 5-7, 7-5.Photo Credit: Canadian Open Twitter
