American players Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro and Amanda Anisimova are through to the semifinals of the National Bank Open in Toronto, alongside young Russian Diana Shnaider.
Defending champion Jessica Pegula, the highest-ranked woman remaining in the draw, reached her fourth straight semifinal at the National Bank Open with a 6-4 7-5 win over fellow American Peyton Stearns. The third-seeded Pegula took the first set without facing a break point and then rallied from a 5-2 deficit in the second set by winning five games in a row.
Pegula’s next obstacle will be Diane Shnaider, one of the most in-form players of the summer, after the Russian ousted last year’s runner-up Liudmila Samsonova 4-6 6-1 6-4. Playing her first WTA 1000 semifinals, the 20-year-old Shnaider will try to record her second career Top 10 win, after earning one over Coco Gauff in the fourth round of the National Bank Open. It will be the first career meeting between Pegula and Shnaider.
Amanda Anisimova, who took a mental-health break from the sport last season, upset second seed Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 6-2, defeating her for the fifth time in their seven encounters after losing their previous two matchups. Anisimova showcased her resilience by saving all five break points in the first set and rallying from an early break down in the second set to win five consecutive games. Sabalenka, who withdrew from Wimbledon due to a shoulder injury and missed the Paris Olympics, struggled with the windy conditions, hitting eight double faults throughout the match.
Anisimova’s next opponent will be fellow American Emma Navarro, who reached her first WTA 1000 semifinal by ending the run of lucky loser Taylor Townsend 6-3 7-6(5).
