Naomi Osaka Advances to Canadian Open Fourth Round with Straight-Sets Win

Naomi Osaka advanced to the fourth round of the Canadian Open with a commanding 6-2, 6-4 victory over 22nd-seeded Jelena Ostapenko, showcasing strong baseline play and effective serving. The Japanese player, ranked 49th and returning from maternity leave earlier in 2024, displayed improved form, winning 71% of her first-serve points and capitalizing on Ostapenko's 37 unforced errors. Osaka broke early in the first set and sealed the match by breaking Ostapenko at love in the final game, marking her third career win over the Latvian without dropping a set. She is set to face either third seed Jessica Pegula or Anastasija Sevastova in the upcoming round, with this performance highlighting her readiness for the US Open. This tournament serves as a key warm-up ahead of the Grand Slam event, where Osaka aims to reach her first WTA 1000 or Grand Slam quarter-final since maternity leave. The Canadian Open is also notable for its revamped 12-day format and features other prominent players like Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff.