Elena Rybakina flows through Garbine Muguruza at WS Open

Elena Rybakina swings big during her second round match against Garbine Muguruza at the Western & Southern Open. 

Elena Rybakina nearly swept her way clear to the third round at the Western & Southern Open Wednesday. The reigning Wimbledon champion took down Garbine Muguruza in spectacular fashion, winning 6-3, 6-1 on Court 4 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. The 28-year-old Spaniard didn’t have her best against the youngster, committing five double faults and numerous errors from the second serve.

It was the battle of the Wimbledon champions, where one was at her best while the other struggled for consistency. In Toronto, the Spaniard had a good first round but flopped against Belinda Bencic. The Kazak put in time in each tournament since the hard court season returned but didn’t go deep into any. With less than two weeks before the final slam, she and Muguruza wanted to put their best into play and keep it high.

Rybakina got the competition underway with a blast of right-handers that tore through the eighth seed. Eyeing her chance to break ahead, the 23-year-old drew the errors from Muguruza to get the break. The Kazak laid out a serve to love that woke up the Spaniard to get her game underway. Cheers from the crowd went the way of Muguruza, who had to work hard defending against Rybakina’s forehand returns. Two AD points were the effort made from the eighth seed to get on the board, but the dominant offense from her adversary only widened the gap.

With a 4-1 hold on Muguruza, Rybakina put the pressure on more, bringing out a double fault that turned the tables. Rybakina threatened with a breakpoint, and though she was pushed to deuce, the Kazak assured the break in the sixth. Muguruza broke back for her second of the set, hoping she could tie another win along with it. Reeling errors out of Rybakina helped her build confidence in her two-handed swing, but the 23-year-old had the balls back in hand.

Serving for the first set, Rybakina timed her shots, drawing errors from Muguruza that gave her three set points. She put it away on a crosscourt ace for the serve to love and the set in 37 minutes.

Muguruza tried to better herself, digging into her serve while playing defense against Rybakina. The 23-year-old brought up a breakpoint chance but was denied the easy way to win. It set off a tug of war for the AD point, which by the third break went to Rybakina. The Spaniard broke back after putting intensity into her service, cutting the Kazak in response. She almost had her first lead of the match, until a mistake opened the door for the Wimbledon champ. After a three-break fight, Rybakina came out with the double break in hand.

Muguruza had another chance to break back, but the effort from Rybakina stunned the opposition. The 23-year-old fought from 15-40 to force deuce and hold serve, taking the wind out of the eighth seed. It was 4-1 for Rybakina, who scored the triple break and consolidated all that work with a hold for 5-1. Muguruza was on the edge of defeat, serving out the seventh with a pair of free points to start. Once the 23-year-old found her first point, she ran off with the win on a final double fault from Muguruza, ending a 1 hour and 14 minute day on the court.

Emma Raducanu rushes to win in straight sets over Victoria Azarenka

Emma Raducanu celebrates her second big win of the tournament facing Victoria Azarenka at the Western & Southern Open.

Emma Raducanu backed up her dominance at the Western & Southern Open to do it again Wednesday. Facing Victoria Azarenka was a near clean task for the British number one as she took down the two-time champion of the tournament 6-0, 6-4 on center court at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. It took her 62 minutes to make it into the third round, keeping her head up and focusing on the offense.

The two met for the first time in an inevitable second-round faceoff in Ohio. Though Azarenka still had to fight through Kaia Kanepi in three sets, she cleared the way to face the Brit, who slayed the queen of tennis out of Cincinnati. It was a necessary win for the Brit, who had not put up a lot of wins against high-ranked players this season. The tenth seed’s youth and speed left a chance for her to set the pace against another former world number one and dig deeper into the WTA 1000 event.

Earning a break from Azarenka was a positive start, drawing the errors from her opponent to get into her service. Though she fell behind on it in the second, Raducanu forced deuce and denied further breakpoints to consolidate a lead. The British teen racked up the double break, with help from Azarenka’s second double fault. Keeping her service short was still a task for the tenth seed, who was forced to deuce but prevented Azarenka from producing a breakpoint chance.

Raducanu let her know that, taking charge on the returns to earn the break to love and a 5-0 stand. In the sixth, the Brit scored consecutive points for three attempts at the set. Azarenka saved one with a return winner and earned the other on a long return from Raducanu. With one to go, the 19-year-old scored a sliced ace to take the first in 27 minutes. Unforced errors number 16 for Azarenka left her producing winners on the low end and Raducanu keeping up the pressure.

At the start of the second, the 19-year-old broke through her opponent’s gameplay, forcing deuce and  clinching the only AD point played. She backed up her response with a resounding serve to love in the second, notching her eighth win in a row. The 33-year-old’s performance was near the floor as her serve in the third was out of it. She handed Raducanu the break to love, indicating that she didn’t have it ready on the day.

Azarenka last scored a point in the first game, and after the Brit notched her ninth straight, she scored one. It was not a bright point as the tenth seed charged straight to a 4-0 run on serve. To avoid being double bageled, the 33-year-old dug deep to defend her side of the court and hold serve against the teen in the fifth. Raducanu notched herself one game from the match, but Azarenka’s win in her previous serve brought together another.

It was 5-2 and the chance for the Brit to close it out was under threat from the 33-year-old, who dictated the eighth game. Raducanu forced deuce, saving two breakpoints before getting her first match point on a long return from Azarenka. The attempt from the 19-year-old went long on a return shot, but after gaining a second chance on a smashing return, she got it done and dusted. Raducanu completed another solid victory when the return from Azarenka landed long of the baseline.  

Arianne Hartono dispatches Eugenie Bouchard at Van Open

Eugenie Bouchard showed signs that her game was alive, but her consistency was missing at the Odlum Brown Vancouver Open Tuesday. Arianne Hartono had her issues as well but came out the victor in a 6-2, 6-2 score on center court at the Hollyburn Country Club.

This was the first singles match for the Canadian since March 17, 2021, when she suffered a shoulder injury and struggled to get back into action. After coming short of readiness for the Citi Open, Bouchard committed to Vancouver and did well in doubles Monday. Though she hasn’t faced Hartono before, it was a perfect opponent to face in her journey to come back.

The Canadian brushed off the rust, going to deuce with Hartono before finding her way to holding serve. The Dutch player found her points in the second but faced a new gear in Bouchard. The 28-year-old blanked Hartono, only to watch her opponent level right back in the fourth. The 26-year-old consolidated with a break to love of Bouchard, in hopes that she could keep the superstar behind.

Errors from Bouchard’s returns helped get the Dutch player a two-game buffer, but in the seventh, the 28-year-old brought the defense to her service. A pair of double faults awarded Hartono a chance to break Bouchard, but the challenge was alive in the Canadian. She produced three AD points but converted none.

Once Hartono got her chance, she took the break on the fourth break, sitting pretty to serve for the match. The Dutch star served up a shutout to Bouchard, completing perfect first serve points run of the first in 30 minutes. Bouchard’s second serve didn’t come in to assist well and produced no breakpoints. With the right shoulder not at 100%, the Canadian would continue to struggle to get her shots in check.

It left Hartono to dictate onward, breaking her opponent to begin the second set. She backed up the early lead to make it 2-0 on Bouchard, but it wasn’t going the way of a shutout. Pulling it all together, the Canadian overcame losing the first two points on serve and won the next pair. Hartono erred late in the fourth, opening the door for Bouchard to fight for the breaks. Despite only getting one, she went three with the Dutch star before going down.

The 26-year-old added another break to her day against Bouchard, sitting three games ahead and the match in sight. Before she could do that, Bouchard etched a win for herself on errors from Hartono that included a double fault at the end. The Dutch star redeemed herself with a break back, setting up a chance to end her day on the court.

On serve for a spot in round two, Hartono fell behind in scoring, only to paint the lines for match point. A double fault forced deuce for Bouchard, who battled through two breaks until an easy smash went right into the net. On her third try, Hartono got it done with a line drive winner away from Bouchard to cap the victory in 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Sorana Cirstea upsets Belinda Bencic in three sets

Sorana Cirstea clenches her fist during a first-round match with Belinda Bencic at the Western & Southern Open. 

Sorana Cirstea fought through every point to achieve victory at the Western & Southern Open Tuesday. The Romanian never let her game fall hard and stayed on Belinda Bencic, who erred late in a 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-4 result on Porsche Court at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.  

The two last met during the hard quarantine days in Australia last year, where the Romanian edged the Swiss in straight sets. In a less restricted environment, the players sought a positive outlook to the tournament. Bencic posted three matches in Toronto before losing out to Beatriz Haddad Maia in a tough battle. Coming into Ohio, the 25-year-old was warmed up for further action that Cirstea had yet to log in. After Wimbledon, the 32-year-old right-hander played once in Prague but had yet dug in to the US Open Series. With two weeks before the slam, the Romanian required an upset to continue.

Both players opened the match, with Cirstea leading the way through five games. In the sixth, Bencic had trouble with her service, leaving the Romanian to power through for the break and a two-game lead. The 32-year-old backed up the break, taking a firm hold of the set and putting the 12th seed under pressure. The Swiss opened the eighth with two good points, but the next three went the way of Cirstea due to terrific ball placement. Bencic forced deuce with a return winner, but back-to-back errors sealed it up for the Romanian, who had a leg up after 35 minutes.

During the set break, Bencic received a time violation for not returning in time from the restroom. As play got underway in the second, the two played a long rally, with Cirstea earning the first point on serve. She lost the next three of four before saving a breakpoint from the Swiss. Bencic produced another to take the game only to be broke back. The Romanian backed up her response with a strong service game to lead 2-1 on the 12th seed.

The following five games were held by both players, closing in on the business end of the set. The ninth game was a contest as the lead would go to the winner of it. Bencic forced deuce against the Romanian, leading to a tug of war for the AD point. After four breaks, Cirstea managed to hold off the Swiss, giving her a chance to play for the match. The 32-year-old earned points from Bencic’s errors, but the Swiss turned it around with aggressive play, securing the hold of serve.

The 12th seed kept up the quality and broke Cirstea in the 11th, earning her a chance at taking the set away. It was a mix of good points and bad points for Bencic, who expected Cirstea to falter on two lobbed shots, but watched her succeed in returning. It put them into the tie-break, with the Romanian earning the first point. On the third point, Cirstea drew an error for the mini-break, but couldn’t keep up with the long pace Bencic wanted.

Errors started to creep in to the offense, giving Bencic freedom to dictate the remainder of the competition. Reaching three set points, the 12th seed earned her way to a deciding set, watching a crosscourt from Cirstea land wide of the baseline in what was a 72-minute onslaught. Both had similar stats, given how the set went evenly on holds of serve.

The third didn’t start that way as Cirstea broke Bencic and consolidated with the hold of serve. The Swiss star got on the board in the third, keeping within striking distance while sitting a break down. Cirstea kept her lead in check through the eighth game when it came time for Bencic to serve to survive. In the ninth the Romanian earned her first match point, but the 12th seed killed her chance, forcing deuce in response. The 25-year-old won the AD point and played the ball away from the body until Cirstea hit a return long.

The 32-year-old still had a shot to win the match on her terms, and after a double fault, she drew errors from Bencic and soon had a second match point. The Swiss pushed her opponent behind the baseline and delivered a shot away from her to force deuce. Cirstea played the next point reaching every return from the 12th seed to earn a third match point. The 32-year-old got it done and dusted on a low shot that didn’t come back across the court, ending 2 hours and 38 minute challenge.

Victoria Azarenka fights to win three setter against Kaia Kapepi

Victoria Azarenka celebrates a point during her match with Kaia Kanepi at the Western & Southern Open .

Victoria Azarenka brought the intensity to come through victorious at the Western & Southern Open Monday night. Having very little hard court time recently, the 32-year-old went three sets against Kaia Kanepi 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 on Grandstand Court at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.  

The two veterans met for the fourth time and first since 2009. The 32-year-old held the lead for all those years, preparing to rekindle their rivalry. The Estonian logged in several matches that led her to be the finalist at the Citi Open. Though she lost a chance for the title there, the 37-year-old proved she still had what it took to compete. Despite getting cut short in Toronto, Kanepi was back for her third main draw in Ohio, ready to face off with Azarenka.

The 32-year-old chose to receive and earned the break, watching the Estonian hit some balls long of the baseline. Kanepi broke back on unforced errors, holding Azarenka to a point in the second. She backed things up with a hold of serve, followed by the former world number one. Azarenka brought the heat to her game, launching an attack for the double break and held serve for a 4-2 lead, scoring four aces.

Kanepi made sure not to let another service game slip from her hands, securing the seventh to stay a break down. By the eighth, Azarenka was still ahead and fought to close out the set. She created some errors on the returns, losing her first set point attempt. She gained another two through five breaks of deuce, taking the first on a Kanepi double fault. It was a pleasing 43-minute battle for the 32-year-old, who came through with the aces and cleaned up her mistakes when they needed to be.

Azarenka had a hair more winners than Kanepi, but it came down to the errors which the Estonian committed more of. The 37-year-old knew improvements had to come, but Azarenka was first to act. She held to open the second set, breaking the Estonian for the early lead. Kanepi broke back, but Azarenka achieved the double for a 3-1 score. Kanepi broke back after double faults from the veteran and managed to level the score at three-all.

She took her first lead of the match, notching her third break over the former world number one, who notched her fifth double fault of the set. The Estonian backed it up for the second time in the set, sitting two games up after eight. Azarenka let a lot of games slip away, and on serve, made sure that she didn’t let another go that path. Holding Kanepi back, the 32-year-old hit well with the forehand, putting herself a game down.

It was on the Estonian to hold the score in her favor, and in the tenth game, Kanepi played tremendously. Running after the shots and dictating them with strength, the 37-year-old locked down the second in 48 minutes. Azarenka had the most errors of the set, but her double faults led to the most damage done.

The Estonian took charge in the decider, breaking the veteran with two in hand. The next three games went the way of the returner until a huge hold from Azarenka gave her the lead after five. A break for the 32-year-old came on a double fault from the Estonian just as the two-hour mark hit in the match. With the two-game buffer, Azarenka hit well with the cross courts, hitting for the body of Kanepi, resulting in a hold and the 5-2 score. To extend her time on the court with the 32-year-old

Kanepi succeeded in holding serve for the first time in the set, but the pressure was on Azarenka to keep it together and bring an end to the night. She put herself in a great spot, gaining three match points after pressuring her opponent throughout the ninth. Azarenka watched a return from Kanepi go wide to take the first round in 2 hours and 13 minutes.

“If you asked me the last time we played, I couldn’t have told you, but I remembered we practiced at the Australian Open so, I was kinda going off that,” said Azarenka after her match. “She’s an incredible player and proves time and time that she can bring some of the best level against top players. The match was really tight. I was just glad that I was able to turn it around in the third set and try to find a way.”

The two-time champion sets herself up for an interesting matchup, facing the winner between Emma Raducanu and Serena Williams on Wednesday.

 

Beatriz Haddad-Maia downs Belinda Bencic in three sets

Beatriz Haddad Maia yells out positively during her match with Belinda Bencic at the National Bank Open. 

Belinda Bencic was cut short in a hard way at the National Bank Open Friday night. Beatriz Haddad Maia made it known that her skills had improved greatly, beating the former Toronto champion in three sets 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 on center court at Sobeys Stadium. It was her first win against the Swiss star and another step closer to a WTA 1000 title in Canada.

The two played the first WTA match of the season, and it was there that the Swiss took down the Brazilian in straight sets. In the eight months since then, Haddad Maia has won three WTA titles in her short time on tour. Having won five matches against the top ten players that yesterday included Iga Swiatek, Haddad Maia stands out as a dangerous opponent.

Though it took her three hours, the 26-year-old denied Swiatek’s 50th match win this season, putting her on a course to even up with Bencic. The Swiss’s path was surprising, taking down Williams and Muguruza with ease. Facing the left-handed hitter would prove a challenge for the 12th seed as well as making sure she could face the adversity that Haddad Maia now possessed.

Both had terrific starts to their service games, holding the other to just a point. In the third, Haddad Maia tried to go for the early break only to see Bencic defend well. When she leveled the score, her offense took care of business to hold back the threats from Haddad Maia. Bencic held the fifth and went for her moment to break in the sixth, playing deep return shots against the Brazilian. With the lead in hand, the 12th seed served to back up the break, drawing errors to sit up 5-2.

Bencic easily finished the opening set in 33 minutes, breaking Haddad Maia to love. She won 70 percent of points from the first serve and outscored the Brazilian 28-16 in the set. Knowing that her offense needed an increased output, Haddad Maia had the chance to make good of the remaining match.

The second set saw the Brazilian and Swiss hold their opening serves, but a break for the 26-year-old turned the tide that was on display. She backed it up for a 3-1 lead before Bencic found her way back to controlling her service. After six, Haddad Maia enjoyed having the break advantage on the 12th seed, giving her a chance at making it a fight to the end.

After eight, Haddad Maia continued to hold Bencic back, earning her chance to force a deciding set. The 12th seed felt the pressure, double-faulting to bring the score to deuce. Another double fault brought up set point for the Brazilian, who watched as a long return from Bencic clinched her the second in 46 minutes. The 26-year-old improved her first serve output, matching Bencic’s 73 percent scoring. The difference maker was the 17 unforced errors the Swiss committed, blaming the crowd.

She opened the decider with a two-game streak before being annoyed in the third when she told them to “shut up.” Expressing her complaints to the umpire during the sit-down didn’t bring changes, other than the score when Haddad Maia broke in the fourth. The Brazilian backed up the break to lead Bencic into the midsection of the third.

The Swiss found a way through her service, aiming for the body and waiting for the drives out of Haddad Maia’s reach. With the momentum back to level terms, the 26-year-old defended her service, battling Bencic where they went three breaks. After saving two breakpoints, Haddad Maia secured the seventh game. A huge break of Bencic put her up 5-3, needing the nerves to stay in check as she served for a place in the semifinal.

Forcing mistakes from Bencic was the order for Haddad Maia, who reached two match points. She lost one after a nine-shot rally, watching the ball go wide of the tramlines. Bencic forced deuce on a 16-shot rally that ended with her crunching a 26th winner. Unfortunately for the 12th seed, a long return brought the Brazilian a third match point, which she clinched with an ace ending a 2-hour 11-minute match.

Belinda Bencic manhandles Garbine Muguruza in straight sets

Belinda Bencic feeling positive during her round of 16 match with Garbine Muguruza at the National Bank Open. 

Belinda Bencic didn’t expect to have another easy night on center court at the National Bank Open Thursday night. The 12th seed kept her game in check, defeating Garbine Muguruza 6-1, 6-3 at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto. The 25-year-old was perfect on breakpoints and won 84 percent of points from the first serve.

Both players pulled off big wins yesterday, with the Spaniard shaking off all the rust in her win over the tough Kaia Kanepi in straight sets. The Swiss star repeated 2015 with her upset of Serena Williams in straight sets, disappointing the crowd. Meeting for the first time in four years makes this matchup a huge deal for both. Both won against the other on hard courts, and in serious moments of the tournaments. Despite the eighth seed having just one match under her belt recently, her experience against the resurgent Swiss star was enough to make it a tight battle.

Bencic served up shots to Muguruza, who struggled to prep for the forehands, failing to get into the game. She suffered a break in the second as the 12th seed brought in her backhanded attack that bested the Spaniard for a 2-0 lead. Back on serve in the third, Bencic opened the door for Muguruza, notching double faults but getting the score to deuce. Despite making a third, she somehow held the game to take another step ahead.

Tremendous focus on the returns handed the Swiss star a commanding 4-0 run on Muguruza, who struggled to find her niche. Bencic marched on but recorded her fourth double fault at 40-0. She put it behind her fast and closed out the fifth game, continuing her dominance. With one chance left to avoid the shutout, Muguruza dug in on serve and pressed the forehand to secure the service.

Bencic let nothing bother her on the court and, in the seventh, rushed to victory, ending the set in 27 minutes. Despite four double faults, the 12th seed outscored Muguruza 28-13, with ten winners and 93 percent points won on the first serve. The 28-year-old knew it was time to get her act together and be on the right side of the scoreboard. The eighth seed proved so with a hold to start the second set.

She added a break but was broken right back by Bencic, who didn’t want her opponent getting out of control. By the fifth game, it was Muguruza still ahead with a break up on the Swiss, who served for a chance to level. Bencic drew three errors from the Spaniard until a return landed wide from her end. Losing a point was not an issue as she forced another long ball return from the eighth seed, making it three-all.

A break of serve in the seventh for Bencic was a game-changer, regaining control of the momentum. Mistakes in the eighth allowed Muguruza a chance to break back, but a net-front smash for the Swiss forced deuce. Muguruza blew her AD point chances and, three points later, found herself facing a 3-5 elimination scenario. The 28-year-old served to stay in the fight, but Bencic was there for every hit from across the net. After an error from Muguruza, Bencic put the match to bed with a line drive winner ending one hour and three minutes under the lights.

Bencic improved her record in Canada to 11-1 since her 2015 title and would take on Beatriz Haddad Maia. “I think every match is really difficult,” said Bencic during her on-court interview. “Bea has played some great matches throughout the grass season, and she’s a tricky lefty, very tough, she has a good serve, and I think it’s going to be a challenge, but I’m really happy to play another match here.”