Elena Rybakina defeated Naomi Osaka, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4, in the quarter-finals of the Canadian Open.
Battling back from a set down, Rybakina emerged victorious in her first career meeting against the Japanese star.
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After the match, Rybakina delivered her verdict on Osaka’s game.
Elena Rybakina says Naomi Osaka plays ‘aggressive’ and makes comment about her serve
During her post-match press conference, Rybakina said the following.
“Well, it wasn’t very different from the practices. She plays aggressive and she has a very good serve,” she said.
“I knew what to expect since we practiced a couple of times.
“Of course, some moments under pressure are different from the practices.
“Overall, I feel like we knew each other already a little bit.
“It was important for me to serve well, which I didn’t do to start the match. Then it got better, so I’m glad that in the end it went my way.”
Rybakina was then asked about the four break points she saved at the beginning of the third set.
“Yeah, these kinds of points I feel like I also got a bit lucky because she should have won it,” she said.
“But also, I had the same situation where I had the ball on top of the net, and I didn’t win it.
“So I feel like it’s more about fighting and trying to, in some moments, put the ball back. Honestly, some break points that I saved, she serves really well, but I also felt that I knew where the ball was coming; it was kind of on the racket, but I was not managing to return.
Elena Rybakina vs Naomi Osaka – Match stats
| Stats | Elena Rybakina | Naomi Osaka |
| Aces | 15 | 3 |
| Double faults | 6 | 6 |
| 1st Serve % | 56% | 62% |
| Win % on 1st Serve | 74% | 65% |
| Win % on 2nd Serve | 55% | 63% |
| Break points | 3/6 | 3/7 |
“So, yeah, again, I think mindset was only to stay close to the score, try to play a point at a time.
“And when I was getting to the deuce and getting my opportunities, I was just trying to play a little bit more aggressive, and maybe risky, how it happened also on match point.”
Picking up the win, Rybakina advanced to her third Canadian Open semi-final.
Elena Rybakina’s WTA 1000 record
| Event | Best performance | Win/Loss record | Win % |
| Qatar Open | F – 2024 | 10-4 | 71% |
| Dubai Tennis Championships | SF – 2025 | 9-3 | 75% |
| Indian Wells | W – 2023 | 16-4 | 80% |
| Miami Open | F – 2023, 2024 | 16-6 | 73% |
| Madrid Open | SF – 2024 | 10-6 | 63% |
| Italian Open | W – 2023 | 14-4 | 78% |
| Canadian Open | SF – 2023, 2025, 2026 | 12-4 | 75% |
| Cincinnati Open | SF – 2025 | 10-6 | 63% |
| China Open | SF – 2023 | 5-2 | 71% |
| Wuhan Open | QF – 2019, 2025 | 5-2 | 71% |
But who must she beat to reach her first-ever final in Canada?
Elena Rybakina faces tough Coco Gauff test in Canadian Open semis
Next up for Rybakina is Coco Gauff, the world number four.
Gauff received a bye into the semi-finals when her quarter-final opponent, Belinda Bencic, withdrew due to injury.
Arguably the fresher of the two, the American will fancy her chances, but who has had the better of their head-to-head?
Rybakina and Gauff have only played one singles match, which the American won in three sets.
- 2022 Canadian Open R32 – Coco Gauff defeated Elena Rybakina, 6-4, 6-7, 7-6
Meeting for the second time, at the same location, Rybakina will be looking to level their head-to-head at 1-1 and reach the final.
Whoever reaches the final will play either Iga Swiatek or Elina Svitolina in the championship match.
