Amanda
Anisimova and Emma Navarro secured decisive victories in the quarter-finals and
will face off for a spot in the final of the WTA 1000 Canadian Open. They have
met once before, with Anisimova winning back in the 2022 Indian Wells.
In the
first match of the day, Navarro ended Taylor Townsend’s impressive run, while
later Anisimova surprised world No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets.
Anisimova shocks Sabalenka in straight sets
The start
of the hardcourt season has been an ideal time for Anisimova to showcase her
best form on the Tour. The American took a break from her career in April 2023
for mental health reasons and returned in January 2024. She had some good
performances upon her return, including reaching the fourth round at the
Australian Open, but injuries affected her consistency in the following months.
At the DC
Open last week, she advanced from qualifying to the quarter-finals, including
wins against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and former US Open champion Sloane
Stephens. This week, she again advanced through qualifying and has now
eliminated three top favorites: Daria Kasatkina (No. 12), Anna Kalinskaya (No.
17), and Aryna Sabalenka (No. 3).
The first
set was highly contested, with the American saving up to five break points
against her. However, a chance in the 10th game gave her a tight 6-4 set. In
the second set, Sabalenka took the first break and led 2-1, but began to falter
due to her own errors and Anisimova’s strong performance. Anisimova won five
consecutive games and sealed the victory 6-4, 6-2, eliminating the last
remaining top favorite in the draw.
Anisimova
continues to climb the WTA Ranking and is guaranteed to reach at least world
No. 66 after the tournament, with the potential to return to the top-50 if she
reaches the final.
Amanda Anisimova at 2024 Australian Open
Navarro Ends Townsend’s Dream
Emma
Navarro continues her good run in Toronto, taking advantage of her favoritism
to defeat Taylor Townsend (No. 71) 6-3, 7-6(5). The world No. 15 took an early
break to lead 2-0, though Townsend managed to recover the break in the next
game and equalize.
With the
score at 3-3, Navarro saved two break points against her and quickly took a
break in the next game, turning the match around. The New Yorker, aged 23,
secured the first set 6-3 after 39 minutes.
Read also
In the
second set, Townsend fought back, leveraging the power of her serve (with 9
aces throughout the match) and capitalizing on Navarro’s errors, who committed
8 double faults (compared to only one by Townsend). Both players held serve
throughout the set and it went to a tie-break, where Navarro showed her class
and closed out the match 6-3, 7-6(5).
Navarro’s
previous best result in a WTA 1000 event was reaching the quarter-finals at
Indian Wells this year (losing to Maria Sakkari), and she will be in the
semi-finals for the first time, also guaranteeing her best ranking as world No.
13. On the other hand, Anisimova had previously reached the quarter-finals at
the WTA 1000 Madrid Open and Rome Open in 2022 (both on clay courts), but had
never made it to the semi-finals before.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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