Gauff reaches Toronto semi-finals after Bencic withdrawal

Coco Gauff has reached the semi-finals of the WTA Toronto Masters without hitting a ball after Belinda Bencic withdrew from their quarter-final with a hip injury.

Tournament officials confirmed the withdrawal on Tuesday, handing the world number four a place in the last four as she continues her strong run in Canada.

Gauff, 22, will face Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals after the world number two fought back from a set and a break down to defeat four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4.

Rybakina needed two hours and 33 minutes to complete the comeback, recovering from an early setback after Osaka broke in the opening game and went on to claim the first set.

The Kazakh held her nerve in the deciding set to secure her place in the semi-finals.

Bencic, 29 and ranked 14th in the world, withdrew with the US Open due to begin later this month. The Swiss has yet to reach a Grand Slam final.

Gauff, meanwhile, will contest the 16th WTA 1000 semi-final of her career. She has reached the last four in Toronto without dropping a set and remains in pursuit of her first title of the season.

The American has already finished runner-up in Miami and Rome this year and reached the Wimbledon semi-finals.

Gauff leads Bencic 6-2 in their head-to-head record and defeated her twice this season, in the fourth round at Wimbledon and the quarter-finals in Miami.

Her semi-final against Rybakina will be a rematch of their only previous meeting, which Gauff won in three sets in Toronto in 2022.

Rybakina said after her victory over Osaka that Gauff would present a difficult challenge, describing the American as a fighter and emphasising the need to bring strong energy and serve well.

The Kazakh also played down the significance of the world number one ranking, which is within her reach, saying it was not her current focus.