Osaka Sails into Canadian Open Semis, Shelton Knocks Out De Minaur

On August 5, 2025, Naomi Osaka advanced to her first Canadian Open semi-final, marking her first appearance in a WTA 1000 semi since Miami 2022, by defeating Elina Svitolina in straight sets, 6–2, 6–2, at the National Bank Open in Montreal.

Osaka, a four‑time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1, dominated the quarter-final in just over an hour. She capitalized on Svitolina’s unforced errors, breaking twice early and staying composed even after briefly dropping serve late in the first set. A break back followed, and Osaka convincingly closed out the opener. In the second set, the Ukrainian mounted more resistance, but Osaka converted two more break opportunities to seal her win.

The 27‑year‑old Osaka praised her current form: “I think for me, I’m just having a lot of fun playing and I’m really glad to be here.” She will now face Danish 16th seed Clara Tauson in the semi‑finals. Tauson earned her spot with a commanding win over American Madison Keys, defeating her 6–1, 6–4, having already upset Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek earlier in the tournament. In emotionally charged win, Tauson revealed that she had played in memory of her recently deceased grandfather, to whom she dedicated the victory over Swiatek.

Osaka’s resurgence

Osaka’s triumph marks a resurgence in elite-level tennis for the former world No. 1. Her last appearance in a WTA 1000 semi came nearly three years ago, and her Montreal run signals a revival of her top-tier form. Having dispatched Svitolina with both power and poise, Osaka enters the semi-final with confidence. Her next opponent, Tauson, is riding a wave of momentum, making their showdown one of the most compelling matches of the women’s draw.

Shelton Stuns De Minaur to Reach Maiden Masters 1000 Semi

Simultaneously in the men’s draw, Ben Shelton booked his first Masters 1000 semifinal by defeating Alex de Minaur 6–3, 6–4 in straight sets in Toronto.

The 22‑year‑old American, seeded fourth, controlled the match from start to finish. Shelton served 13 aces and faced only two break points in a 91‑minute performance. De Minaur, ranked No. 8, struggled with unforced errors—conceding 28, compared to Shelton’s 23—and was broken once in the first set and twice in the second, unable to find his rhythm in their first-ever tour-level meeting.

Shelton praised his mental toughness after the match: “I’m really happy with the win; it showed a lot of mental toughness… I served out the sets confidently and I’m really excited about the chance to be in the semi‑finals.” His emphatic victory not only ended de Minaur’s seven-match win streak following his Washington title, but also moved Shelton to career-high territory in the ATP Race to Turin for the year-end Finals, with a chance to leapfrog Novak Djokovic into the top six should he win the Canadian title.

Shelton will face fellow American and second seed Taylor Fritz in the semi-final—a rare all-American Masters 1000 semi-final matchup, the first since 2010 and only the fourth since 2000. Fritz had earlier dispatched Andrey Rublev 6–3, 7–6(4) in straight sets to secure his place.

Broader Tournament Landscape

The Canadian Open in 2025 has featured its share of surprises. On the women’s side, reigning Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek exited early at the hands of Clara Tauson in the round of 16 (7–6, 6–3), part of a string of top-seed upsets that included defeats for Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Mirra Andreeva. Meanwhile, in Montreal, Canadian wildcard Victoria Mboko became the first Canadian woman since 2019 to reach the Canadian Open semi-finals, stunning top seed Gauff 6–1, 6–4 in the process.

On the men’s side, aside from Shelton and Fritz reaching the final four, Germany’s Alexander Zverev overcame defending champion Alexei Popyrin in a dramatic three-set quarter-final, coming from a set down to win 6–7(8), 6‑4, 6‑3. He’ll meet Russia’s Karen Khachanov in the semi‑final after Khachanov beat Alex Michelsen in straight sets .

What’s Next?

• Women’s semifinal: Naomi Osaka vs. Clara Tauson
  A rematch packed with drama: veteran Osaka versus the in-form and emotionally charged Tauson.
• Men’s semifinal: Ben Shelton vs. Taylor Fritz
  A clash of styles and personalities, with an all-American showdown setting the stage for an American finalist.

In summary, the Canadian Open has delivered high drama and milestone breakthroughs: Osaka’s return to WTA 1000 form and Shelton’s breakout into the elite phase of Masters 1000 competition, both powered by impressive performances and confident wins.