WTA Toronto: Navarro edges past Kostyuk to move into quarter-finals

American Emma Navarro, the No 8 seed, battled past Marta Kostyuk, the No 11 seed, 7-5, 7-5 to reach the quarter-finals of the National Bank Open at the Aviva Centre.

With victory today, Navarro has reached just her second1000-level quarter-final.

Despite the straight-set scoreline, it was a tight contest for much of the pair’s time on court, with a late break in the first ending a flurry of break each as Navarro just edged it.

As the American looked to have a tight hold on the match, moving a break up in the second, it was Kostyuk who then struck at the death, breaking Navarro as she served for victory.

But Navarro wasn’t to be denied for long. She broke straight back as a frustrated Kostyuk failed to consolidate, with Navarro then serving out the match successfully at the second time of asking.

She will play American lucky loser Taylor Townsend next, who put in an excellent display to dispatch Jelena Ostapenko earlier on in what was a highly successful day for the Americans in Toronto.

The American beat Pole Magda Linette (6-2, 6-4) ahead of her victory.

Earlier in the tournament, Kostyuk, ranked No 20, defeated German Tatjana Maria (6-0, 6-2) and Elina Svitolina (6-2, 2-6, 6-2).

Toronto WTA 1000, other last-16 results (Aviva Centre, hard, USD 3.211.715, most recent results first):

• Katie Boulter vs. Aryna Sabalenka
• Coco Gauff vs. Diana Shnaider
• Elise Mertens vs. Liudmila Samsonova
• Victoria Azarenka vs. Peyton Stearns
• Amanda Anisimova vs. Anna Kalinskaya
• Jessica Pegula vs. Ashlyn Krueger: friday
• Taylor Townsend beat Jelena Ostapenko (4): 6-2, 6-1