Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek became the latest high-profile casualty at the WTA Canadian Open on Sunday, falling 7-6 (7-1), 6-3 to Denmark’s Clara Tauson in a shock fourth-round exit.
The world number three and second seed in Montreal joined a growing list of top seeds sent packing, including Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Mirra Andreeva, and Amanda Anisimova, who later lost in straight sets to Elina Svitolina.
Tauson, ranked 19th in the world, avenged her Wimbledon fourth-round loss to Swiatek in style. The 21-year-old Dane called the victory — her second ever against a top-five opponent — “unreal.”
“Obviously it’s really great and it shows all the hard work I’ve been doing has been the right thing,” Tauson said. “I’m getting more confidence at this kind of level and feeling like I belong here a bit more. I think that really helped me today in the important points.”
Tauson now advances to the quarter-finals, where she will face Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who survived two match points in a gritty 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over Karolina Muchova. It marked Keys’ third match win this year after facing match point.
Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka breezed through her fourth-round clash, dispatching Anastasija Sevastova 6-1, 6-0 in just 49 minutes — the second-quickest win of her career.
The emphatic performance sends Osaka into her first quarter-final at a WTA 1000 or Grand Slam tournament since Doha 2024.
For Swiatek, it was a frustrating return to competition after her Wimbledon triumph last month. Struggling with rhythm in breezy conditions, the Polish star surrendered an early break and couldn’t capitalize on key opportunities.
She clawed back from 3-5 to lead 6-5 in the opening set, but Tauson held her nerve to force a tiebreak — which she dominated — sealing the set with a double fault from Swiatek.
The second set followed a similar pattern. Swiatek saved two break points at 3-4 but cracked again with a double fault that handed Tauson a decisive break. The Dane calmly served out the match, clinching victory when Swiatek sent a backhand into the net.
Tauson’s win continues her resurgence after capturing her third career WTA title in New Zealand earlier this year — her first since 2021.