Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Karen Khachanov Stuns Casper Ruud in Toronto – Marta Kostyuk Climbs, Elena Rybakina Survives Scare in Montreal at National Bank Open 2025

Big wins across two cities as Khachanov, Kostyuk, and Rybakina advance to the last eight.

Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Today was a strong day at the National Bank Open for Marta Kostyuk, Karen Khachanov, and Elena Rybakina, who all secured their spots in the quarterfinals, Khachanov at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto, and Kostyuk and Rybakina at IGA Stadium in Montreal. While Khachanov powered past Casper Ruud, Kostyuk battled back from a set down, and Rybakina took care of business against Dayana Yastremska to round out the winning trio. Let’s look at the details of each.

Khachanov is SO back 🔥

Karen scores his first Top 20 win of 2025, beating Ruud 6-4 7-5 to reach his 10th ATP Masters QF!#NBO25 pic.twitter.com/zo0FkLy1NP
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 2, 2025

Khachanov Powers Past Ruud to Reach Last Eight

Karen Khachanov powered past Casper Ruud 6-4, 7-5, delivering a serving clinic that gave the Norwegian few looks. The Russian won 97% of his first-serve points and struck 7 aces, while limiting Ruud to just 12 receiving points across the match.

Even with dropping serve early in both sets, Ruud managed to level the second at 4-4. But Khachanov stayed sharp, breaking once more for 6-5 and sealing the win with a love hold. The victory sends him into his second straight quarterfinal, where he will face rising American Alex Michelsen.

Game, Set, Masterclass 👨‍🎓@karenkhachanov is a Masters 1000 quarter-finalist for the 10th time in his career! @NBOtoronto | #NBO25 pic.twitter.com/iApsDt0zVh
— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 2, 2025

Khachanov finished with 71 total points to Ruud’s 55, winning 10 of 13 service games and 29 return points. Though Ruud won 71% of his second-serve points and landed 68% of first serves, his inability to convert key moments, just 1 of 4 break points, proved costly.

Kostyuk Rallies Past Kessler in Three-Set Battle

Marta Kostyuk clawed her way into the quarterfinals with a 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 comeback win over McCartney Kessler, reaching her third QF of 2025 after similar runs in Doha and Madrid. After a tense opening set marred by 10 double faults and shaky serving, the Ukrainian settled into a more consistent rhythm. She won 67% of her second-serve points and converted 5 of 20 break opportunities while holding steady in her service games.

The stats were close across the board. Kostyuk won 118 points to Kessler’s 102, and both players shared a high of four games in a row. Kessler, who hit 12 double faults and won just 42% of second-serve points, couldn’t match Kostyuk’s late-match poise.

Kostyuk d. Kessler 5-7 6-3 6-3

Marta reaches the Montreal QF for the first time.

Come into this week, she hadn’t won a match since May.

Massive turnaround in her level this week… Athleticism & movement off the charts.

✅3rd WTA 1000 QF of 2025

Back to winning ways.

🇺🇦💙 pic.twitter.com/JKWQclQHmr
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 2, 2025

Both players struggled behind their serves at times, as Kostyuk won just 54% of first-serve points and Kessler 70%, but it was Kostyuk’s edge in return points (55 to 38) that tilted the contest her way.

Rybakina Survives Scare, Storms into Montreal Quarters

Elena Rybakina came from a set down to edge Dayana Yastremska 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 and book her place in the Montreal quarterfinals. In spite of hitting 10 double faults and landing just 59% of her first serves, the fourth seed found her rhythm when it mattered most.

After dropping the opening set, Rybakina bounced back with cleaner service games and sharper returns, winning 73% of first-serve points and breaking five times in total. The deciding set stayed tight until Rybakina finally pulled ahead with a late break to seal it. She finished with 115 total points to Yastremska’s 101 and 50 receiving points compared to 37.

Rybakina 🤝 Montreal QFs

Elena Rybakina regroups to fight past Yastremska 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 for a place in the quarterfinals!#OBN25 pic.twitter.com/ys0HoYzp7M
— wta (@WTA) August 2, 2025

Mandatory Image Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Casper Ruud

Dayana Yastremska

Elena Rybakina

Karen Khachanov

Marta Kostyuk

McCartney Kessler

Montreal

National Bank Open 2025

Toronto

Rudra Dubey

nfl

mma

I’m an academic turned sports writer from Raipur, India, specializing in the NFL, MMA, and tennis at The Playoffs. I previously wrote for Sportskeeda and hold a B.A. and M.A. in History. My journey into sports media began far from the field, rooted in the arts and sciences. Funny enough, I didn’t grow up a sports fan; I used to see it all as just noise. But a fateful writing job introduced me to the world of sports, and what began as a gig quickly became a passion. I understood those voices aren’t noise; they’re emotions of true sports fans, and now I am one of them, writing with the same energy I once questioned.