Rybakina Reaches Toronto Last 16 as Fernandez Upsets Andreeva

Elena Rybakina advanced to the fourth round of the WTA Toronto Masters on Friday with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over American 28th seed Ann Li, while Canada’s Leylah Fernandez ended Mirra Andreeva’s run in straight sets.

Rybakina, the world number two and reigning Australian Open champion, needed 90 minutes to defeat Li and book a last-16 meeting with Liudmila Samsonova. Fernandez, seeded 30th, beat fifth-ranked Andreeva 6-1, 6-4 in 80 minutes to earn a showdown with 11th seed Naomi Osaka.

The results set up a significant stage of the Toronto event, with Rybakina continuing her push through the draw and Fernandez claiming a top-10 victory after a difficult sequence against the highest-ranked opponents.

Rybakina converts chances against Ann Li

Rybakina made a strong start against Li, taking the opening set 6-2 before completing a tighter second set 7-5. She converted five of her six break-point opportunities and saved two of the four break chances she faced.

The win sends Rybakina into the last 16 against Russia’s Samsonova, who came through a three-set match against Australia’s Maya Joint. Samsonova won 7-5, 6-7 (3/7), 6-2 to advance.

Samsonova holds a 4-2 lead in the pair’s career rivalry, although Rybakina has won their past two WTA meetings. Their most recent meeting came in last year’s Strasbourg final, which Rybakina won.

Rybakina’s Toronto progress adds another fourth-round appearance to her season after arriving at the tournament as the Australian Open champion. Her victory over Li was built on taking advantage of her break opportunities while limiting the damage when Li created openings on return.

Elsewhere, Osaka moved on with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Belgium’s 20th seed Elise Mertens in 71 minutes. Osaka struck seven aces, converted four of eight break points and saved all three break chances she faced.

That result put Osaka into the next round against Fernandez, with their head-to-head record level at one win apiece. Fernandez won their 2021 US Open meeting on her way to a runner-up finish, while Osaka won their match last year in Wuhan.

Fernandez ends losing run against top-10 opposition

Fernandez dispatched 19-year-old Andreeva 6-1, 6-4, snapping a seven-match losing streak against top-10 opponents. She won 24 of 27 points behind her first serve and took 17 of 23 points on Andreeva’s second serve.

Andreeva finished with 34 unforced errors and 17 winners as Fernandez maintained control across the two sets. It was Fernandez’s first win over a player ranked as high as Andreeva since she defeated then-fourth-ranked Jessica Pegula on the way to last year’s WTA Washington title.

Fernandez said patience and consistency were central to her approach, particularly during the long rallies early in the match. “The key for me was to stay positive, stay strong, and to keep being patient,” Fernandez said. “She wasn’t going to give away some easy balls.”

Fourth seed Coco Gauff also progressed, defeating Greece’s Maria Sakkari 6-1, 6-4 in 76 minutes. Gauff built a 5-1 lead in the second set before Sakkari closed in, but Gauff won five of the final six points and sealed the match with a backhand-volley winner followed by a service winner.

Gauff will face 19-year-old Russian Alina Korneeva, who beat US 13th seed Iva Jovic 6-3, 6-4 in 82 minutes. Korneeva converted seven of eight break points to reach the last 16.