Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu became the latest big names to fall in the Canadian Open as preparations for the U.S Open continued in Toronto.
The news of Serena Williams’ pending retirement overshadowed the proceedings where the favorites continued to fall.
Osaka, playing only her second tournament at the Canadian Open since an Achilles injury, tearfully retired from her match against Kaia Kanepi while trailing 7-6(4) 3-0.
The two-time U.S Open champion will be hoping to recover in time for the final grand slam tournament of the year.
There was more bad news for the current U.S Open holder, Emma Raducanu, as she fell in the first round of the tuneup event to Camila Giorgi. After dropping the first set 7-6(0) the Brit broke immediately in the second for a 2-0 lead before the Italian defending champion stormed back to win the last six games and eased into the second round 7-6(0) 6-2.
Bianca Andreescu gave the home crowd something to cheer about as the Canadian overcame Daria Kasatkina 7-6, 6-4.
The 10th seed Coco Gauff, China’s Zheng Qinwen, Belgian Elise Mertens, Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo, Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic, and Greece’s Maria Sakkari also reached the next round.
Meanwhile, over at the men’s bracket, Nick Kyrgios kept his recent hot streak alive with a 6-4 6-4 win over Sebastian Baez to set up a second-round showdown with world number one Daniil Medvedev.
Kyrgios and Medvedev both entered the Masters 1000 tournament in Montreal after notching titles at U.S. Open tune-up events. The Aussie won the Citi Open in Washington D.C. for a second time while Medvedev did not drop a set en route to lifting the trophy in Los Cabos.
In other results, Taylor Fritz beat Andy Murray 6-1 6-3, Frances Tiafoe saw off Benjamin Bonzi 6-7(6) 7-5 6-3 while Alex de Minaur, Dan Evans, Marin Cilic, Tommy Paul, and Grigor Dimitrov were among other first-round winners as well.
