Barty to lose world No.1 ranking to Osaka or Pliskova
Australian Ashleigh Barty’s eight-week reign as the WTA’s No.1 player in the world is over after Naomi Osaka breezed past her German opponent in the second round of the Canadian Open.
Barty’s 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-4 second round loss to American Sofia Kenin left the door open for the Japanese star and ex-world No.1, who snatched the opportunity with a 6-2 (retired) victory over Tatjana Maria in Toronto on Thursday.
But Czech Karolina Pliskova, another former world No.1, could overtake both Osaka, the reigning US Open and Australian Open champion, as well as Barty, with a deep run in the tournament.
Pliskova can reclaim the top ranking for the first time in almost two years if she reaches the semi-finals.
If Osaka advances to the quarter-finals, then Pliskova would need to reach the final to claim top spot. Should the duo meet in the final, the winner would take all.
Pliskova, the first Czech ever to hold the top spot, opened her campaign in Toronto perfectly by beating Alison Riske, the American who snapped Barty's long winning streak in the Wimbledon fourth round last month.
The Czech defeated Riske 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 6-2 and will next face Anett Kontaveit, who's previous opponent Carla Suarez Navarro retired while trailing 7-5, 3-1.
Meanwhile, Wimbledon champion Simona Halep survived a stern test from American qualifier Jennifer Brady with a 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-5) victory to reach the last 16 and keep alive her hopes of a second consecutive title in Toronto.
Fourth seed Halep, who requested a medical timeout to get treatment on her left leg after the second set, clinched the two-hour 26-minute battle on her second match point when a Brady backhand caught the top of the net.
"She played great and ... she made a great match and was really difficult to play against," Halep said in her on-court interview after her first career meeting with Brady.
Ukrainian teenager Dayana Yastremska, who has won titles in Strasbourg and Hua Hin this year, did well to shake off the nerves and secure a 7-5 7-5 upset victory over former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka.
Meanwhile, John Millman was eliminated from the Canadian Open in straight sets by Marin Cilic.
The 30-year-old was no match for the 14th-seeded Croatian, who dispatched him 6-3, 6-4 in just one hour and 15 minutes, which included a rain relay, in Montreal on Thursday.
Cilic will play the either second seed Dominic Thiem or local hope Denis Shapovalov in the third round.
Millman had made a decent run as the lone Australian male to make the second round after losing in the qualifiers.
Compatriots Alex de Minaur, Jordan Thompson and Nick Kyrgios were all knocked out of the opening round on Wednesday.
AAP