Serena powers past Osaka, Halep’s title defence ends

Serena Williams is the last seed standing at the Rogers Cup as defending champion Simona Halep made a quarter-final exit on Friday.

Williams was in impressive form as she powered past Naomi Osaka in their first meeting since last year’s controversial US Open final.

The American great is the only seed into the last four, with Halep’s title defence coming to an end at the WTA Premier tournament.

WILLIAMS WONDERFUL AGAINST OSAKA

Williams has apologised for her meltdown at Flushing Meadows last year and the 23-time grand slam champion produced a brilliant display against Osaka.

Osaka had won her previous two matches against Williams in straight sets, but the 37-year-old secured a 6-3 6-4 victory over the Japanese star on Friday.

.@serenawilliams books a spot in the @rogerscup semifinals!

She takes out Osaka, 6-3, 6-4 pic.twitter.com/0CF017UkKP

— WTA (@WTA) August 10, 2019

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.

Due to injury, Halep has retired from the match.@MarieBouzkova moves into the @rogerscup semifinals with a 6-4ret. scoreline. pic.twitter.com/MsEQzr0nJI

— WTA (@WTA) August 10, 2019

PLISKOVA, SVITOLINA STUNNED

Karolina Pliskova also exited in the quarter-finals, suffering a 6-0 2-6 6-4 loss to Canadian Bianca Andreescu.

Incredible!@Bandreescu_ beats third seed Pliskova 6-0, 2-6, 6-4 to reach the semifinals of the @rogerscup !#RC19 pic.twitter.com/jEygfGjmX1

— WTA (@WTA) August 9, 2019

That result meant Osaka, who later lost to Williams, will replace Ashleigh Barty atop the world rankings.

Andreescu will face Sofia Kenin after the American upset Ukrainian sixth seed Elina Svitolina 7-6 (7-2) 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.