Top-seeded Pliskova reaches quarterfinals at Rogers Cup
Japanese qualifier Naomi Osaka was brimming with confidence after taking a set off the world’s top-ranked women’s tennis player on Thursday at the Rogers Cup.
Any hope of completing a major upset over Karolina Pliskova was dashed moments later.
After her serve was broken to open the third set, Osaka decided to retire from the match due to an abdominal injury. That gave Pliskova a 6-2, 6-7 (4), 1-0 victory and a berth in the quarterfinals.
It wasn’t immediately clear when Osaka suffered the injury.
She was in form during the tiebreaker, firing a service winner to convert her second set point under the warm sun at Aviva Centre.
Pliskova came out strong to open the third set and Osaka called for a trainer at the changeover. She briefly stretched out on the hardcourt before the decision was made.
The world No. 50 received treatment after the match and did not
speak to reporters.
Pliskova, meanwhile, will move on to play sixth-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, who downed 10th-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 6-3, 6-1 on Thursday.
Pliskova, recently installed as world No. 1, also had an afternoon doubles match scheduled
with Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard. They were to face Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany and Kveta Peschke of the Czech Republic.
Caroline Garcia of France defeated American Catherine Bellis 6-4, 6-2 in the other early singles match. Play continues at the US$2.74-million tournament through Sunday.