Rybakina Advances After Injury Halts Quarterfinal Match

Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina secured her spot in the semifinals of the 2025 National Bank Open in Montreal on Monday, following a sudden mid-match retirement by Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk due to an arm injury.

Kostyuk, trailing 6-1, 2-1 in the quarterfinal at IGA Stadium, withdrew from play after seeking medical attention for her forearm. The ninth-seeded Rybakina had converted 3 of 10 break points by that stage and sealed the 54-minute contest with a respectful handshake as her visibly emotional opponent left the court in tears.

Tournament Setback for Ukraine’s Kostyuk

The match was shaping into a dominant performance by Rybakina before Kostyuk’s injury intervened. During a break after the third game of the second set, trainers wrapped Kostyuk’s right forearm, but the treatment was ultimately ineffective in preventing her withdrawal. Ranked 24th, Kostyuk’s exit marks another early-round departure for one of the event’s top-seeded competitors.

Teen Phenom Mboko Prepares for High-Stakes Matchup

Later Monday evening, all eyes turned to Canada’s rising tennis star Victoria Mboko, who was scheduled to face Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in a highly anticipated quarterfinal. The 18-year-old Toronto native stunned the tennis world on Saturday when she defeated top-seeded Coco Gauff of the United States in straight sets, taking just 62 minutes to finish the match.

Mboko, who began the year outside the WTA top 300 and now ranks 85th, has ignited national excitement with her historic run on home soil.

Tournament Shakes Up as Top Seeds Fall

The 2025 National Bank Open, a key WTA 1000-level tournament, continues through Thursday’s final. Notably, all of the tournament’s top five seeds were eliminated before the quarterfinals, setting the stage for a fresh-faced lineup in the closing rounds. Rybakina’s next opponent will be determined based on the result of Mboko’s match against Bouzas Maneiro.

With new stars emerging and unexpected upsets dominating headlines, the tournament continues to captivate fans across Canada and the tennis world.

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Michelsen Secures Major Upset in Toronto

American tennis rising star Alex Michelsen pulled off a significant upset on Thursday, July 31, 2025, by defeating third-seeded Lorenzo Musetti of Italy at the National Bank Open in Toronto. The 19-year-old Michelsen, seeded 26th in the tournament, battled through a three-set thriller, ultimately triumphing 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 to earn a place in the round of 16.

The hard-fought victory marks one of the biggest wins in Michelsen’s young career, highlighting his growing presence on the ATP Tour. The match, held at Sobeys Stadium, drew a sizable crowd, many of whom were stunned by the American’s composure and strategic play against the more seasoned Musetti.

Diallo Remains Canada’s Sole Hope in Men’s Singles

As local favourites fell early, Montreal native Gabriel Diallo stands as the last Canadian contender in men’s singles in Toronto. Diallo is set to face second seed Taylor Fritz of the U.S. in the third round on Friday. Earlier in the day, Diallo partnered with Alexis Galarneau of Laval, Quebec, for a doubles match against Michelsen and fellow American Frances Tiafoe.

This matchup is particularly significant for Canadian fans, as Diallo continues to gain momentum and national attention after a strong 2024 season.

Top Seeds Khachanov and Cerundolo Also Advance

Other notable results from Thursday’s men’s draw include wins by 11th-seeded Karen Khachanov of Russia and 14th-seeded Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina. Khachanov overcame American Emilio Nava in a tense battle, winning 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-1. Cerundolo dispatched fellow Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.

The results signal a strong showing from the mid-seeded players, who continue to pose threats to higher-ranked opponents as the tournament progresses.

Gauff Pushes Through in Montreal Despite Serving Struggles

On the women’s side in Montreal, world No. 2 and top seed Coco Gauff advanced to the fourth round after defeating Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova 4-6, 7-5, 6-1. Despite an ongoing issue with double faults—14 in this match and 23 in her previous win over Danielle Collins—Gauff showcased resilience and athletic dominance, especially in the final set.

With Aryna Sabalenka’s withdrawal due to fatigue, Gauff remains the frontrunner in the women’s draw. Her performance continues to reflect both her youth and promise, as she adapts under pressure on centre court.

Canadian Mboko Carries National Hopes in Women’s Draw

Toronto’s 18-year-old Victoria Mboko is the only Canadian left in the women’s singles competition. She was scheduled to play Czechia’s Marie Bouzkova later Thursday in what fans hoped would be a turning point for Canadian representation in Montreal.

As the National Bank Open moves into the later rounds, Canadian supporters are rallying behind homegrown talent while international stars provide world-class competition across both cities.

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Canadian Hopes Dimmed in Opening Round

Canada’s early dreams at the 2025 National Bank Open were dealt a major blow on Monday as Kayla Cross and Ariana Arseneault were eliminated in first-round action at Montreal’s IGA Stadium. Their defeats came ahead of Eugenie Bouchard’s emotional farewell match in her final professional tournament.

Cross and Arseneault Outclassed in Early Matches

Kayla Cross of London, Ontario, lost a tough three-set battle against Russia’s Kamilla Rakhimova, despite taking the opening set 6-4. The 20-year-old Canadian, ranked 151st globally, was overpowered in the second and third sets, losing 6-3, 6-2 in a match lasting 1 hour and 55 minutes. This marked her first career meeting with the 62nd-ranked Russian on the WTA Tour.

Meanwhile, Ariana Arseneault of Richmond Hill faced former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka and struggled to gain traction, falling 6-4, 6-2. Osaka now advances to face Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova in the second round.

Bouchard’s Farewell Takes Centre Stage

The spotlight turned to Montreal native Eugenie Bouchard on Monday night. The 31-year-old, who announced her retirement earlier this summer, kicked off her final WTA event in her hometown. Bouchard, a former world No. 5, faced Colombia’s Emiliana Arango in a sentimental match that attracted a large local crowd eager to bid farewell.

Bouchard, who helped put Canadian women’s tennis on the map, was praised in the build-up to the tournament for inspiring a new generation of players.

Other Canadian Women Make Strong Starts

Despite the early exits, several Canadian women found success in their opening-round matches. Bianca Andreescu, Victoria Mboko, and Rebecca Marino advanced to the second round on Sunday. However, Andreescu’s status remains uncertain after she appeared to injure her left ankle during her win over Barbora Krejcikova.

Carson Branstine, representing Canada through family ties in Toronto, was also set to compete in a high-profile match against Greece’s Maria Sakkari late Monday night.

Martin Falls in Toronto Men’s Draw

In Toronto, Canadian qualifier Dan Martin suffered a straight-sets defeat to Spain’s Jaume Munar, falling 6-3, 6-0. The 26-year-old Martin, ranked 560th in the world, managed just 40% of his first-serve points and failed to generate a single break opportunity.

Munar, ranked 51st, displayed dominance with six aces and five service breaks, finishing the match in just over an hour.

More Canadians to Compete in Main Draw

Later in the day, two more Canadians were scheduled to take the court. Liam Draxl of Newmarket, Ontario, prepared to face Spain’s Pablo Carreño Busta, while Laval native Alexis Galarneau was slated to meet Arthur Rinderknech of France.

As the tournament progresses, Canadian fans now look to their remaining representatives for a resurgence in both Montreal and Toronto.

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