Sevastova Stuns Pegula at Canadian Open, Sets Up Showdown with Osaka

Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova delivered the biggest upset of the WTA Canadian Open so far, ousting two-time defending champion and world No. 4 Jessica Pegula in a dramatic 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory on Friday to advance to the fourth round.

Sevastova, a former world No. 11 now ranked 386th following her return from maternity leave in February 2024, snapped Pegula’s 11-match winning streak at the event. Pegula’s run was the longest at the tournament since Serena Williams’ 14-match stretch from 2011 to 2014.

“Somehow, I was down 2-0 in the second set and started to play better and better,” said Sevastova. “Third set I played really good. I’m just trying to stay on the court as long as possible.”

Sevastova’s next test will be against four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, who defeated fellow Latvian and 22nd seed Jelena Ostapenko 6-2, 6-4 in her third-round match. Osaka, now ranked 49th, is chasing her first WTA 1000 or Grand Slam quarter-final since returning to the tour earlier this year.

The Japanese star took the first set in just 30 minutes and led 5-3 in the second before Ostapenko mounted a brief comeback. However, Osaka broke serve at love in the final game to seal the match.

“I went in there knowing she’s a great player,” said Osaka. “If I give her a chance, she’s going to hit a winner, so I just tried to keep my pace and stay as solid as I could.”

Meanwhile, world No. 1 Iga Swiatek continued her dominant form since winning Wimbledon, cruising past Germany’s Eva Lys 6-2, 6-2 to reach the fourth round. The second-seeded Pole will next face Denmark’s Clara Tauson, who dispatched Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-3, 6-0.

Elsewhere, sixth-seeded Madison Keys overcame a slow start to beat fellow American Caty McNally 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, setting up a round-of-16 clash with Karolina Muchova. Muchova advanced after a 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-3 win over Belinda Bencic.

Amanda Anisimova, the fifth seed, bounced back from a heavy Wimbledon loss to Swiatek with a commanding 6-2, 6-1 victory over Britain’s Emma Raducanu. She will now face Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, who eased past Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 6-1.

With several high-profile names advancing and surprise exits unfolding, the Canadian Open continues to deliver compelling drama as the road to the finals intensifies.