Sabalenka denies Azarenka’s top 10 return dream at Montreal

Aryna Sabalenka won a battle of Belarus on Friday, denying compatriot Victoria Azarenka the chance to return to the top 10 with a 6-2, 6-4 victory at the WTA Montreal Masters.

Azarenka, a 32-year-old with two Australian Open titles to her credit, last ranked in the elite group five years ago before motherhood.

The quarter-final success for top seed Sabalenka took 82 minutes, with the big-serving winner adding seven aces to her season’s WTA-leading total of 265.

Sabalenka has now won three of four matches against her compatriot, including their last in October, 2020 in Ostrava. Azarenka played the Canadian semi-finals in 2010 and 2011.

Sabalenka was playing her eighth quarter-final of 2021, putting her in the joint lead in that statistical category with world number one Ashleigh Barty.

Sabalenka will next take on fourth seed Karolina Pliskova after the Czech defeated Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain 6-4, 6-0. Pliskova stopped Sabalenka in their last meeting, a Wimbledon semi-final in July.

In the bottom half of the draw, 15th seed Coco Gauff saved two match points before falling to Italy’s Camila Giorgi 6-4, 7-6 (7/2).

The win served as revenge for Giorgi, who lost at home to the American teenager in Parma this season.

Giorgi, ranked 71st, added Gauff to a victim’s list this week which has included 12th seed Petra Kvitova and number 16 Elise Mertens.

Giorgi will meet on Saturday with Jessica Pegula after the Australian Open quarter-finalist rallied past 13th seed Ons Jabeur 1-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-0 in 90 minutes with four breaks of the Tunisian’s serve

Meanwhile, Daniil Medvedev had to work his way through a pair of tiebreakers to ensure a 2-6, 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/5) victory over Hubert Hurkacz and into the semi-finals of the ATP Toronto Masters on Friday.

The Russian world number two was caught on the back foot in the opening set, which he lost to his Polish opponent after committing nearly half of his 40 unforced errors on the night.

But the top seed gathered his resources to stage a fightback in two and a quarter hours on the way to revenge for a five-set loss he took at Wimbledon against the number 13.

Medvedev ended the evening with his 22nd ace on match point.

“It was a super-tough match, he was on top of me for many moments,” the winner said. “He was playing amazing and I’m happy to get through.”

The 2019 finalist here said he picked up his game in the deciding set.

Stefanos Tsitsipas ended the 13-match win streak of Casper Ruud with a clinical 6-1, 6-4 win.

A day after turning 23, the Greek world number three celebrated the birthday of his mother Julia, using the big day as inspiration on court.

“I’m proud of myself,” the 2018 Canada finalist said. “I had it in my mind to try and make her proud today.”

Tsitsipas will play on Saturday against Reilly Opelka, who sent down 18 aces in a 6-3, 7-6 (7/1) defeat of Spanish 10th seed Roberto Bautista Agut.

“It means a lot to get another semi (after Rome last May),” number 32 Opelka said.

“I had a slow start to the year, and being seeded at the slams is a big priority of mine.”

Agencies