The National Bank Open in Toronto showcased a thrilling day of tennis on Thursday, as top two seeds Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the third round, while Naomi Osaka suffered an early exit.
Coco Gauff overcomes a tough test
Top seed Coco Gauff began her North American summer campaign with a hard-fought win over China’s Wang Yafan, securing a 6-4 6-4 victory in the second round. Despite what the scoreline suggests, Gauff faced a stiff challenge from world No. 72 Wang, who had already claimed a significant victory over former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in the previous round.
Gauff, the world No. 2, started strong, racing to a 4-1 lead in the opening set. However, Wang battled back to level the score at 4-4, forcing Gauff to elevate her game. The American responded by winning five consecutive games, closing out the set and taking control of the match. Gauff’s ability to step up in critical moments was evident as she clinched the victory in 1 hour and 28 minutes, marking her fourth consecutive year with an opening-round win at the Canadian Open.
Reflecting on her performance, Gauff acknowledged the challenge of transitioning back to hard courts after her clay-court campaign at the Paris Olympics. “I think I made some more errors than I’m used to, but…
