Pliskova enters Toronto last 8, keeps No.1 hopes alive; Thiem up in Montreal

Karolina Pliskova kept the pressure on Naomi Osaka in the battle to take the world number one ranking by reaching the quarter-finals of the WTA tournament in Toronto on Thursday.

The Czech third seed saw off Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit 6-3, 7-5 to set up a last-eight clash with either Canadian rising star Bianca Andreescu or fifth-seeded Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens.

Meanwhile, Dominic Thiem reached the Montreal Masters quarter-finals on Thursday with a 7-6 (9/7), 6-4 over Marin Cilic, his second win in two days having had to wait five years to break his duck in Canada.

Austrian second seed Thiem, who had knocked out home hope Denis Shapovalov on Wednesday, faced two break points in the final game against 2014 US Open winner Cilic before securing victory on a third match point.

“It’s another great win for me,” Thiem said after his 31st victory of the season. “I was very lucky to save the nine break points I faced.

Next up for Thiem is a last-eight clash on Friday against Russian eighth seed Daniil Medvedev who eased past unseeded Christian Garin of Chile 6-3, 6-3.

Pliskova, 27, must reach the semi-finals to have a chance of reclaiming the world number one ranking but if Osaka makes the last-eight, then Pliskova would need to reach the final to stay in contention.

French Open champion Ashleigh Barty’s stint as the world’s top-ranked player ended after she was knocked out on Tuesday.

Japanese star Osaka, the reigning US and Australian Open champion, takes on Polish teenager Iga Swiatek in her last-16 tie later on Thursday.

Earlier, Serena Williams looked solid in her first match since losing the Wimbledon final, defeating 20th-ranked Elise Mertens of Belgium 6-3, 6-3 on Wednesday.

The 37-year-old American, one crown shy of a record-tying 24th Grand Slam singles title, advanced in 75 minutes at her first US Open hardcourt tuneup event.

Also moving into the third round was Japan’s Naomi Osaka, the reigning US and Australian Open champion. She won after taking the first set 6-2 when Germany’s Tatjana Maria retired with a left abdominal injury.

With Osaka’s triumph over Maria, Australian Ashleigh Barty was ensured of being dethroned next week as world number one.

Williams, ranked 10th, seeks her fourth WTA Canada crown after 2001, 2011 and 2013 and improved her match record at the event to 31-4, winning half the 10 break points she earned against Mertens. Romanian fourth seed Simona Halep outlasted American Jennifer Brady 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/5).

Ukraine teen Dayana Yastremska beat two-time major winner and former number one Victoria Azarenka 7-5, 7-5.

Rafael Nadal had advanced into the third round of the ATP Montreal Masters on Wednesday.

Top-seeded holder Nadal suffered through a two-hour rain interruption before dismissing Britain’s Daniel Evans 7-6 (8/6), 6-4.

Injury-prone Milos Raonic retired to hand 18-year-old fellow Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime a 6-3, 3-6 win. Auger-Aliassime got a walkover win against his compatriot last June on grass in Stuttgart when Raonic suffered a back injury.

Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas, last year’s Canada runner-up, was dumped out 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 by Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, whom the world number five had defeated in three prior matches.

Japan’s fifth seed Kei Nishikori was unable to profit from a match point, losing in 3 hours nine minutes to Frenchman Richard Gasquet.

Spain’s 10th seed Robert Bautista Agut advanced while number 12 John Isner was sent out in straight sets.

Agence France-Presse