Top-seeded Coco Gauff fell out of the National Bank Open on Friday, losing 6-4, 6-1 to 14th-seeded Diana Shnaider in windy conditions at Sobeys Stadium.
Gauff, who is preparing to defend her U.S. Open title, was broken while trailing 5-4 in the first set. The 20-year-old American made a double fault while down 2-1 in the second set, and Shnaider held serve to lead 4-1.
“I just wasn’t finding my timing well,” said Gauff, who is the No. 2-ranked player in the world. “I had a lot of unforced errors and a lot of double faults. She played steady and she didn’t give me any free points.”
It was Gauff’s first hard-court event since April.
“I question whether I should have played (in Toronto) or not, but I wanted to test myself,” Gauff said. “I didn’t have high expectations, but I wish I could have competed better today, even if it resulted in a loss. I don’t think I competed well.”
Shnaider, also 20, won the match with another break and will now play No. 6 Liudmila Samsonova, who beat Elise Mertens 6-2, 6-4.
“I know Coco is very physically prepared for everyone on tour, and she’s running very well, she’s covering all of the balls and all the angles on the court,” Shnaider said.
“So when there were long rallies and I was winning them I was like, ‘Wow, I just beat Coco in long rallies. I am good today.’ I tried to play it cool, but inside I was like, ‘Yes! I made it!’”
In the late match, No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka defeated Katie Boulter 6-3, 6-3.
Earlier, defending champion Jessica Pegula won against qualifier Ashlyn Krueger 6-2, 6-4. Pegula, who is from nearby Buffalo, New York, took advantage of Krueger’s nine double faults. Last year in Montreal, Pegula won the final against Samsonova.
Pegula will now face Peyton Stearns, who became the fifth American in the quarterfinals after No. 12 Victoria Azarenka retired due to a thigh injury.
Taylor Townsend defeated fourth-seeded Jelena Ostapenko 6-2, 6-1, and No. 8 Emma Navarro won against No. 11 Marta Kostyuk 7-5, 7-5 to move on to the quarterfinals.
Amanda Anisimova advanced after No. 10 Anna Kalinskaya of Russia retired because of dizziness. Anisimova won the first set 6-2 and will face Sabalenka in the quarterfinals.
