Shnaider reach last eight after maiden Top 10 win

Diana Shnaider earned a big upset of top seeded player at the tournament Coco Gauff, 6-4, 6-1 in over 70 minutes on Fridays night at the National Bank Open in Toronto.

The 20-year-old Russian who having one of the best seasons on the WTA Tour defeated American Coco Gauff to reach her first quarter finals at WTA 1000 event.

Shnaider, who was making her debut at the Canadian open recorded a maiden Top 10 win after losing her two previous such matches.

“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 mean, I tried to play it cool, but inside I was like, ‘Yes! I made it!'”

With the victory, Diana Shnaider has become the first opponent younger than Coco Gauff to claim victory at WTA level, with Gauff holding a win-loss record of 7-0 prior to this match. She will next face fellow countrywomen Liudmila Samsonova on centre court for a place in the last four.

Earlier, defending champion Jessica Pegula was a 6-2, 6-4 winner against another American, 20-year-old Ashlyn Krueger, who had upset No.15 seed Leylah Fernandez in the second round. She next meet compatriot Peyton Stearns in the quarter finals.

Taylor Townsend continues to make the most of her second chance at the National Bank Open. The American lucky loser who is making her tournament debut surrendered just three games to upset No.4 seed Jelena Ostapenko 6-2, 6-1 in Friday’s third round to advance to her first Hologic WTA Tour quarterfinal in singles at any level.

Navarro moved through to her second career WTA 1000 quarterfinal with a 7-5, 7-5 win over No.8 seed Marta Kostyuk.

Former World No.21 Anisimova, entered in Canada on a protected ranking, only needed to play one set to advance, as No.10 seed Anna Kalinskaya retired after losing the opener 6-2.