Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina hits a return to Australia’s Daria Kasatkina during National Bank Open action in Toronto on Wednesday Aug. 5, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
TORONTO–Second seed Elena Rybakina, third seed Jessica Pegula and fourth-seeded Coco Gauff advanced to the third round of the WTA 1000 Canadian Open in Toronto on Wednesday.
Australian Open champion Rybakina of Kazakhstan began her hardcourt run ahead of the US Open by outlasting Australian Daria Kasatkina 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 after two hours and 33 minutes.
READ: Elena Rybakina crashes out in third round at Wimbledon
World number two Rybakina began the match by hitting six consecutive winners and finished with 58 winners, 15 of them acers, and 58 unforced errors.
“I want to see better serve, the percentage,” Rybakina said after coughing up 16 double faults against 15 aces.
“Today in key moments it worked, but still the percentage is quite low.
“I’m still adapting a bit to the jet lag and everything, so maybe my energy level could be better.”
Rybakina hit back-to-back double faults to drop the second set and three double faults while serving for the match before advancing to next face 28th-seeded American Ann Li, who eliminated Canadian wildcard Kayla Cross 7-6 (7/2), 6-3.
“For the first match it wasn’t too bad, but of course I want to improve,” Rybakina said.
Jessica Pegula of the United States playsMagdalena Frech of Poland during day four of the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers at Sobeys Stadium on August 05, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP
Pegula, who lost Monday in a rain-hit Washington final, was also extended to three sets before advancing with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 triumph over Poland’s Magdalena Frech in two hours and three minutes.
“I was just happy with the way I was able to mentally stay in there,” said Pegula, who also beat Frech in the second-round in Washington a week ago.
“It was more of a mental battle just for me figuring out what to do and not get too frustrated.
“Having to face an opponent like that back-to-back is never easy, especially with a quick turnaround this week.”
Next up for Pegula is a third-round match against Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova, who ousted when Czech Katerina Siniakova retired trailing 6-7 (1/7), 6-0, 5-2.
Another American, two-time Grand Slam winner Gauff, cruised into the third round by dispatching compatriot Kayla Day 6-2, 7-5.
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World number five Mirra Andreeva also advanced in straight sets, the Russian teen cruising past Czech Karolina Pliskova 6-0, 6-2.