Diana Shnaider’s meteoric rise in the tennis world continues to astound, as the 20-year-old Russian left-hander has now claimed a Top 10 scalp in the form of Coco Gauff. In a stunning display of poise and precision, Shnaider toppled the No. 1 seed 6-4, 6-1 in the third round of the National Bank Open in Toronto, marking her first quarterfinal appearance at a WTA 1000 event.
Shnaider, a former three-time junior doubles Grand Slam champion, has made rapid strides in her professional career since establishing a Top 100 ranking while playing college tennis at North Carolina State University. This year alone, she has captured three singles titles, including a 500-level triumph on grass in Berlin, and has ascended to the Top 50 and Top 40 in the rankings.
Her victory over Gauff, who had previously been undefeated against players younger than her, was a testament to Shnaider’s growing maturity and tactical acumen. Windy conditions played a significant role in Gauff’s downfall, as she committed a staggering 42 unforced errors, nearly double that of Shnaider.
Shnaider, known for her powerful groundstrokes, maintained a consistent and deep hitting strategy, forcing Gauff into numerous mistimed shots and serves. Gauff’s struggles were evident in her eight double faults and three breaks of serve, while Shnaider remained unyielding on her own serve, facing only one break point.
“I think she kind of knew to just stay steady because I was giving her a lot of errors,” Gauff acknowledged after the match. “She normally hits big when I see her play, but I think today I was just giving her too many errors, so it wasn’t necessary for her to do that.”
Shnaider’s victory sets up a tantalizing semifinal clash with No. 6 seed Liudmila Samsonova, who defeated Elise Mertens in straight sets. Samsonova, a finalist in Toronto last year, will pose a formidable challenge for Shnaider, but the Russian has proven time and again that she is capable of rising to the occasion.
