The 2025 Canadian Open is proving to be a graveyard for top seeds. In the latest shock result, second seed and reigning Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek was knocked out in the fourth round by Denmark’s Clara Tauson. The 21-year-old Tauson produced a composed, fearless display to win 7-6 (7-1), 6-3, marking her first career win over Swiatek and her most significant victory in a WTA 1000 event to date.
Swiatek, who returned to competition in Montreal after lifting her sixth Grand Slam title at Wimbledon last month, looked visibly short of match sharpness. Her powerful groundstrokes lacked their usual precision, and she struggled to deal with Tauson’s aggressive shot-making and relentless pace from the baseline.
Canadian Open Continues to Claim Top Seeds
Swiatek’s loss adds to an already long list of early exits by the tournament’s marquee names. Top seed and world number one Coco Gauff, third seed and two-time defending champion Jessica Pegula, and fourth seed Mirra Andreeva were all eliminated in earlier rounds, leaving the women’s draw open heading into the quarter-finals.
The unexpected exits have created opportunities for several lower-ranked players to shine and potentially make deep runs—none more so than Tauson, whose self-belief is visibly growing.
“Obviously, it’s really great and it shows all the hard work I’ve been doing has been the right thing,” Tauson said during her on-court interview. “I’m getting more confident at this level and feeling like I belong here more and more. I think that really helped me today during the key moments.”
Tauson has been tipped as a future top-10 player for several years but has been hampered by injuries and inconsistency. With a clean bill of health and a title win already under her belt earlier this year—the third of her career and her first since 2021—she appears ready to take that next step.
Swiatek: Rusty Return for Reigning Wimbledon Champion
For Swiatek, the loss serves as a reminder that even the best require a settling-in period after time off. Her first-serve percentage hovered below 60%, and she struggled to convert break points when it mattered. Despite flashes of brilliance, including some superb defensive rallies and counter-punches, she was outplayed mainly by Tauson, who was bold in her shot selection and unafraid to dictate play.
Swiatek now turns her attention toward preparing for the US Open, where she will look to regroup and reinforce her standing as one of the most dominant players in the women’s game.
“It’s tough to lose, but Clara played really well. She took her chances,” Swiatek said during her post-match press conference. “I didn’t feel my best rhythm-wise, but this gives me something to build on before New York.”
Tauson to Face Keys in Quarter-Finals
Tauson’s next challenge will come in the form of eighth seed Madison Keys, who survived a dramatic three-set battle against Czech player Karolina Muchova. Keys dropped the first set and faced two match points before storming back to win 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in a match filled with power and momentum swings.
The American, who won the Australian Open earlier this year in one of the best runs of her career, is looking to maintain her upward trajectory on hard courts. A potential semifinal between Keys and Naomi Osaka could be one of the standout moments of the tournament—if both continue their winning ways.
Osaka Rediscovers Form with Dominant Win
Naomi Osaka delivered one of the most clinical performances of the tournament so far, thrashing Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova 6-1, 6-0 in under 50 minutes. The former world number one is slowly building confidence since returning from maternity leave early in 2024 and now appears poised to challenge the sport’s elite once more.
Her heavy groundstrokes, improved footwork, and calm demeanor were all on display as she dismantled Sevastova with ease. Osaka, now ranked 49th in the world, is chasing her first title since 2021 and appears rejuvenated under new coach Tomasz Wiktorowski—the man who once guided Swiatek to Grand Slam glory.
“I feel like I had an obvious game plan today, and I executed it well,” Osaka said. “The more matches I play, the more I’m getting back into my rhythm. It’s exciting to feel competitive again at this level.”
Men’s Draw Also Hit by Upsets
The turbulence hasn’t been limited to the women’s side. The men’s event, held in Toronto, has seen its fair share of surprises as well. In a thrilling contest, Australian Alex de Minaur continued his impressive summer form by outlasting American seventh seed Frances Tiafoe in three sets—6-2, 4-6, 6-4.
De Minaur, the ninth seed, recently lifted the Washington Open title and is now aiming to reach his second consecutive Canadian Open final, after finishing runner-up in 2023. His high-tempo, counterpunching style seems to be clicking perfectly on North American hard courts.
“I’ve been playing with confidence and just trying to stay mentally strong,” De Minaur said. “These are the kind of matches that prepare you for the big stages.”
Rune Becomes Latest Seed to Exit
Another high-profile casualty was fifth seed Holger Rune of Denmark. The 21-year-old, known for his fiery competitiveness and powerful baseline game, was upset by unseeded Australian Alexei Popyrin. After taking the first set 6-4, Rune lost his grip on the match and eventually fell 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Popyrin, ranked outside the top 40, played some of his best tennis this season, mixing big serves with clever net play to keep Rune off-balance. His victory has set up a potential breakthrough moment in his career as he reaches the quarter-finals of a Masters 1000 for the first time.
A Tournament of Opportunity
With so many top players already eliminated, both draws are now wide open, offering a platform for both established names on the comeback trail and emerging stars to seize the spotlight.
On the women’s side, Tauson, Osaka, and Keys will all feel they have a genuine shot at the title, especially with Swiatek, Gauff, and Pegula all out. The men’s draw, similarly, has lost a significant portion of its star power, leaving the door open for De Minaur, Popyrin, and others to chase the title in what has become a highly unpredictable week of tennis.
Eyes on the US Open
With just a few weeks to go until the swiatek final Grand Slam of the year, the Canadian Open is often seen as a crucial barometer of form. For players like Swiatek and Rune, the focus now shifts to recovery and preparation. For others like Tauson and Osaka, it’s a moment to build momentum and prove they can contend on the biggest stages once more.
As the Canadian Open heads toward its conclusion, one thing is sure: the unpredictability has brought the excitement back to hard-court tennis, and fans should expect more drama before the champions are crowned.
