The top-seeded Coco Gauff showed her dominance on the court as she defeated Yafan Wang with a score of 6-4, 6-2 in the second round of the National Bank Open. Gauff, who is gearing up for her U.S. Open title defense, mentioned that transitioning from different surfaces can be challenging but she was happy with her performance.
Second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka, the Australian Open winner, faced a tough challenge against Yue Yuan in the night session. Despite not playing her best tennis, Sabalenka expressed her happiness in being able to stay focused throughout the match.
In a late match, Elise Mertens pulled off an upset by defeating Naomi Osaka with a score of 6-3, 6-4. Osaka, a former No. 1 player with four Grand Slam titles, is slowly returning to form after maternity leave.
Fourth-seeded Jelena Ostapenko showed her resilience as she outlasted Paula Badosa with a score of 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2. Badosa, who recently won the Washington title, made a strong comeback after a back injury.
Several other seeded players advanced in the tournament, including Daria Kasatkina, Liudmila Samsonova, Emma Navarro, and Anna Kalinskaya. However, Madison Keys retired from her match due to a thigh injury while Daria Kasatkina, Liudmila Samsonova, Emma Navarro, and Anna Kalinskaya all pulled off impressive wins in their respective matchups.
Canadian Leylah Fernandez, seeded 15th, suffered a loss to qualifier Ashlyn Krueger with a score of 6-4, 6-2. Another Canadian player, Marina Stakusic, faced a tough defeat against Taylor Townsend with a score of 6-0, 6-2.
Overall, the National Bank Open witnessed some thrilling matches with top players showcasing their skills and determination on the court. As the tournament progresses, fans can expect more excitement and upsets in the days to come.
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