Serena Williams produced a brilliant display to claim a straight-sets win over Naomi Osaka in the Rogers Cup quarter final on Friday.
In the first meeting between the stars since last year's controversial US Open final, Williams was in impressive form, recording a 6-3, 6-4 victory in Toronto.
Williams' meltdown at Flushing Meadows during the decider in 2018 overshadowed what was Osaka's first Grand Slam success. Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, has since apologised and, in their first meeting since, she delivered an impeccable performance at the WTA Premier tournament.
Impacted by slow starts this week, Williams made a better opening to her clash with Japanese star Osaka, who had to dig out of a hole at 2-3. However, Osaka – playing more tentatively in windy conditions – sent a forehand long to give Williams, a three-time winner of the tournament, a break in the eighth game.
Williams took the set with a big serve and then broke again in the third game of the second set as Osaka, who will return to top spot in the rankings, struggled to find answers.
The American had lost her previous two meetings with Osaka, but managed to close out what was an impressive victory.
Williams may have been expecting to face Halep in a rematch of their Wimbledon final, but the Romanian bowed out against Marie Bouzkova.
The Czech qualifier continued her run, winning the first set 6-4 when Halep retired injured.
- Pliskova, Svitolina stunned -
Karolina Pliskova also exited in the quarterfinal, suffering a 6-0, 2-6, 6-4 loss to Canadian Bianca Andreescu. That result meant Osaka will replace Ashleigh Barty atop the world rankings.
Andreescu will face Sofia Kenin after the American upset Ukrainian sixth seed Elina Svitolina 7-6(2), 6-4.
At 37, Williams is by far the oldest player left in the draw, with the others – Bouzkova (21), Andreescu (19) and Kenin (20) all under 22.
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