Coco Gauff ousts Wang Yafan as Aryna Sabalenka advances at Toronto

Coco Gauff, the top-seeded player from the United States, progressed to the third round of the WTA Toronto Masters on Thursday, securing a 6-4, 6-4 victory against China's Wang Yafan.

This match marked Gauff's return to competition following her elimination from the Paris Olympics by Croatian player Donna Vekic. In a performance lasting 88 minutes, Gauff delivered six aces and achieved a 60 percent success rate on her first serves.

"It was challenging," Gauff remarked. "I believe I committed more errors than usual, but overall, I was constructing the points effectively. I just need to improve on those final two shots."

"Overall, I am pleased with my performance."

Gauff's next opponent will be Russian 14th seed Diana Shnaider, who came back to defeat Poland's Magdalena Frech with a score of 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(5).

As the world number two, Gauff is adapting to hardcourt conditions following her fourth-round appearance at Wimbledon and her clay experience at Roland Garros during the Olympics.

"It would be significant to win here, especially as I work on finding my rhythm on hardcourt," Gauff stated. "I do not have high expectations, but I aim to play quality tennis."

Gauff, who reached the semi-finals at both the Australian and French Opens this year, has claimed six of her seven career WTA titles on hardcourts, with her latest victory occurring in Auckland this January. Her only title on clay was in Italy in 2021.

In other matches, two-time reigning Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka also advanced, defeating China's Yuan Yue 6-2, 6-2 in 81 minutes.

Next, the world number three will face Britain's 33rd-ranked Katie Boulter, who progressed after 13th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia retired from their match due to a lower back injury after just two games.

US seventh seed Madison Keys withdrew from her match against compatriot Peyton Stearns due to a left thigh injury while trailing 3-0 in the third set.

Latvian fourth seed Jelena Ostapenko staged a comeback to defeat Spain's Paula Badosa, last week's WTA Washington champion, with a score of 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-2. Ostapenko's next match will be against US lucky loser Taylor Townsend.

Liudmila Samsonova, the sixth seed from Russia, advanced to the round of 16 after defeating Japan's Moyuka Uchijima with a score of 6-4, 6-2. Meanwhile, Ukraine's 11th-seeded Marta Kostyuk triumphed over her fellow countrywoman Elina Svitolina, winning 6-2, 2-6, 6-2.