Madison Keys, Naomi Osaka, and Alex de Minaur advance to the National Bank Open quarterfinals after intense Sunday matches in Montreal and Toronto.
Keys Battles Wind and Pressure to Advance
American sixth seed Madison Keys booked her spot in the National Bank Open quarterfinals in Montreal on Sunday, defeating Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic in a thrilling three-setter: 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. Despite a windy afternoon and a slow start, Keys powered through with her 75th career win over a top-20 player, marking her first quarterfinal appearance at this tournament since 2016.
Keys, a 2025 Australian Open champion, matched Ana Ivanovic for the longest gap between quarterfinal appearances at the event in the Open Era. Her resilience was on full display as she came from behind for the second consecutive match, following a similar comeback win against Caty McNally in the third round.
Osaka Cruises in Commanding Return
Naomi Osaka of Japan overwhelmed Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia with a dominant 6-1, 6-0 victory, needing just 49 minutes to seal her place in the quarters. Playing at her confident best, Osaka struck five aces and didn’t face a single break point. The former World No. 1 is now the only Japanese player in the Open Era to reach multiple quarterfinals at this Canadian tournament.
The four-time Grand Slam champion, returning to form after missing the 2023 season on maternity leave, emphasized steady progress: “Being healthy and happy is a form of success,” she said. With this win, Osaka is expected to jump significantly in the rankings from her current No. 49.
De Minaur Outlasts Tiafoe in Tight Clash
In Toronto, Australia’s Alex de Minaur outlasted Frances Tiafoe of the U.S. 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 to enter the men’s quarterfinals. Over two hours and 24 minutes, de Minaur broke serve five times and won 77% of his first-serve points, while Tiafoe tallied 10 aces in a hard-fought contest.
De Minaur’s consistency and court speed proved decisive in the final set. He now awaits the winner of the late Sunday match between Ben Shelton and Flavio Cobolli.
Tournament Heats Up as Quarterfinals Set
With Madison Keys awaiting either Iga Swiatek or Clara Tauson, and Naomi Osaka to face the winner of Amanda Anisimova vs. Elina Svitolina, the women’s draw is shaping up for explosive matchups. On the men’s side, Andrey Rublev also advanced after Alejandro Davidovich Fokina retired in the third set due to injury. Rublev will meet the winner of Taylor Fritz vs. Jiri Lehecka.
As the National Bank Open continues this week across Montreal and Toronto, Canadian fans can expect more electrifying action as top names battle for glory on Canadian courts.
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