NBO quarter-final preview: Tauson bids to beat…

Clara Tauson got her first win against Iga Swiatek on Sunday at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers. She can’t let up in the quarter-finals on Tuesday as the Dane takes on another Grand Slam winner, Madison Keys, who was almost out of the tournament in the fourth round.

Naomi Osaka, like Keys, also saved match points in Montreal. Osaka’s challenge in the quarter-finals comes from her fellow mom and 2017 finalist Elina Svitolina.

Let’s look at both of Tuesday’s night session matches a little closer.

Madison Keys vs. Clara Tauson: Tauson leads 1-0

Rather than being overawed, Tauson seemed to relish the opportunity of facing Madison Keys after her straight-set win against Iga Swiatek at IGA Stadium.

“I think it's really important to get these kinds of matches on this high level, especially back-to-back,” said the 22-year-old. “Then you can really see if you can maintain the level.

“I think I showed this year that I can maintain the level, but obviously it's going to be a super tough match against Madison. She's playing some great tennis. Yeah, she always has great fire.”

Perhaps the most notable demonstration of Tauson’s ability to back up wins came in Dubai in February.

After upsetting World no. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, Tauson posted two more victories to make the final of the WTA 1000 event.

She hasn’t dropped a set through three matches in Montreal, saving 11 of 15 break points and tallying a healthy 75 percent of points won behind her first serve.

The world no. 19 possesses similarly explosive power to her opponent — especially on the forehand — but as Keys pointed out, there’s more to her game.

“Clara is I think a fantastic ball striker,” said Keys, a finalist in Montreal in 2016. “She’s got a big serve, got a lot of power on both sides. I think she actually covers the court quite well on top of things.

“It’s one of those matches where you kind of have to temper a little bit and not go for things too quickly but at the same time you want to be on offence as quickly as possible.

“You know if she’s on her front foot, then you are usually behind in the point and it’s really hard to get back to neutral.”

The 30-year-old discovered that first-hand in Auckland in January, losing to Tauson in straight sets in the quarter-finals.

No one has won more matches from a set down on the women’s tour than Keys this year (9).

The duo kicks off singles play at 6 p.m.

Naomi Osaka vs. Elina Svitolina: Osaka leads 4-3

You could excuse Naomi Osaka for thinking ahead and thinking big. She has, after all, landed four Grand Slam titles. But Osaka is fully focusing on the short term.

“I mean, definitely, of course I would want to win Slams, of course I would want to be in the Top 10, but I think I need to pace myself and go for the mini goals, and they'll eventually turn into the big goals,” Osaka said. “Yeah, I think being in the quarterfinals here is a step to hopefully getting to the semis and the finals, so I'll try to treat it more like that.”

Not as many wins in the last few years might have prompted a change in mindset. Her last top-tier title, for example, came at the 2021 Australian Open and Osaka — who took a mental health break and later became a mom — dropped outside the Top 800 in the rankings early last year.

Like Keys, the world no. 49 saved two match points to get to the quarter-finals. In her case, they came on the (big) serve of Liudmila Samsonova in the second round. Osaka, has prevailed in straight sets in her last two matches.

Svitolina, meanwhile, has quietly — and efficiently — advanced. The 13th-ranked Ukrainian, like Tauson, hasn’t conceded a set.

Her scalps in the last two rounds came against Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova and Washington finalist Anna Kalinskaya.

Svitolina has saved a combined 11 of 12 break points and won around 70 percent of her opponents’ second serve points.

Osaka and Svitolina follow Keys and Tauson on Centre Court.

Photo: Frédéric Côté

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