TORONTO, Canada (AFP) – Serena Williams won the rematch Friday, dominating Naomi Osaka, 6-3, 6-4, to ensure the Japanese star won’t leave Toronto with a title to go with her No. 1 world ranking.
Williams fired 12 aces and didn’t face a break point as she beat Osaka for the first time in three meetings – avenging her shock loss in last year’s controversial US Open final in which the American star was docked a point and a game after losing her temper when warned about coaching.
There was no such drama in Toronto, where Williams broke Osaka for a 5-3 lead in the first and closed out the opening set with a service winner.
She broke again for a 2-1 lead in the second and never looked like surrendering the advantage.
Even a run-in with the net cord – as she raced forward trying to run down a drop shot –didn’t faze her.
“It hurt, but it wasn’t the end of the world,: Williams said.
The American’s lone wobble came in the final game. After a pair of aces gave her a triple match point, Williams offered up a double fault and two backhands into the net before she closed it out with an ace on her fourth match point.
In the semifinals Williams will face Czech qualifier Marie Bouzkova, who advanced when Wimbledon champion Simona Halep retired with Achilles tendon trouble after dropping their first set 6-4.
Canadian teen Bianca Andreescu ousted Pliskova, 6-0, 2-6, 6-4, after one hour and 49 minutes to doom the Czech’s bid to regain the top spot for the first time since 2017.
Andreescu advanced to a semifinal clash with American Sofia Kenin, who defeated Ukraine sixth seed Elina Svitolina, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4.
