Quarterfinals set at the 2015 Rogers Cup

The quarterfinals at the 2015 Rogers Cup in Toronto are set and Canada’s Premier 5 WTA event is quickly moving towards its exciting conclusion. The group of the last eight is led by Serena Williams, as the world #1 made a smooth transition into the quarterfinals on Thursday, getting past German Andrea Petkovic in straight sets.

Serena’s impressive performance was followed up by another straight-set affair as Ana Ivanovic swept by Polona Hercog in a quick fashion, setting up a very interesting quarterfinal encounter with Belinda Bencic.

Earlier in the day, the young Swiss secured her spot in the quarters by beating Sabine Lisicki in what was a stunning three-set affair out on the Grandstand court. Bencic came out guns blazing, taking the first set by storm, until Lisicki secured the second set. The third-set decider was a tossup all the way into the final tiebreak when Bencic finally sealed the deal.

Another stunning three-set match was played on center court between Angelique Kerber & Simona Halep. After taking the first set, Halep suddenly found herself on the defense in the second as a quality match ensued that went into a third set. Much to the joy of the many very vocal Romanian supporters inside the Aviva Tennis Centre, Halep remained victorious and the #2 seed joined Serena Williams in the round of the last eight.

Not being part of that elite group will be Victoria Azarenka, following her straight-set loss to Sara Errani. Errani will be joined by another somewhat surprising quarterfinalist, as Lesia Tsurenko has made the round of the last eight at her first-ever Rogers Cup appearance. Following an upset win over Garbine Muguruza on Wednesday, Tsurenko got by Germany’s Carina Witthöft in the third round. The Ukrainian managed to win her match in straight sets despite a late-match stumble over an advertising board in which Tsurenko seemed to have hurt her foot, finishing her match on one and a half legs.