Brazilian outsider Beatriz Haddad Maia toppled World No 1 Iga Swiatek 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 on Thursday to reach the quarter-finals of the WTA Toronto Masters.
The South American ranked 24th in the world beat her third top-10 opponent this season, but notched her first career win over a World No 1 as she clawed out the victory in three hours.
Haddad Maia, who won titles at Nottingham and Birmingham in June, became the first Brazilian to reach the quarters at a WTA 1000 tournament.
She was the first from her country to face a number one since Telian Pereira lost to Serena Williams at Roland Garros in 2016.
Swiatek, whose six titles this season include the French Open, missed her chance at a 50th match win this year in the setback that comes two weeks before the start of the US Open.
Her run of 23 straight wins at the Masters 1000 level was snapped in difficult playing conditions.
“At the beginning I struggled to find my rhythm, probably because she’s lefty and I had a hard time adjusting to her serve,” Swiatek said.
“Without the wind I would manage. But it was pretty crazy out there.
“In the third set I knew (the mistakes) I’d made. So I know what I want to work on and what I want to improve before the next tournament, for sure.”
Haddad Maia put Swiatek on the defensive, forcing her to save 15 of 19 break points while committing nine double-faults.
She limited her own unforced errors to a dozen, backed up by 23 winners while Swiatek ended with 33 winners and 28 unforced errors.
“I’m happy and proud of myself and my team, it’s a special moment,” she said. “It’s not always easy to beat the number one on a huge stage and against all the crowd.
“I think I passed through very tough moments in my career to live this moment. I just want to enjoy a little bit.
“I don’t want to think about my next match,” added Haddad Maia, who will play Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic for a place in the semi-finals
Bencic followed up her victory over 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams with a brisk 6-1, 6-3 victory over Spain’s Garbine Muguruza.
Kyrgios wins all-Aussie clash
Nick Kyrgios crushed fellow Australian Alex de Minaur 6-2, 6-3 on Thursday to reach the quarter-finals of the ATP Montreal Masters.
Kyrgios carried on constant backchat with his player box, giving almost a running commentary of his state of mind on court in a display that seems second nature to him.
Nevertheless, the Wimbledon runner-up dominated in the all-Aussie match, winning the opening set at a clip of three minutes per game in a contest which took just 64 minutes.
The second-set pace was just as torrid, with Kyrgios breaking in the opening game.
He failed to serve out the win leading 5-2, missing on a drop shot and sending a forehand into the net.
But de Minaur lost the next game to love as Kyrgios prevailed in front of a packed stadium.
The winner of last week’s Washington 500 series title suffered his only recent loss to Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final. Victory means he’ll be in the top 30 next week, meaning a seeding at the US Open which starts on August 29.
“That was my goal, so I didn’t have to play one of the (tennis) Gods in the first round,” Kyrgios said.
“Today was a tough one. there was a lot on the line. I’m happy with the performance today.
“After beating (World No 1 Daniil) Medvedev yesterday, my confidence is incredibly high.
“It’s never easy to play a friend, but against Alex I went out and got the job done, I played how I had to play,” said Kyrgios who next faces eighth-seeded Hubert Hurkacz, a 6-7 (6), 6-2, 7-6 (3) winner over Albert Ramos.
Kyrgios has now won 15 of his last 16 singles matches, “The days are blending into each other,” he said. “It’s tiring but that’s the sport.”
He added: “I’m missing home a lot but there are only a few more tournaments until I can go home and see my family.”
Casper Ruud kept his title hopes alive as he duelled for more than three hours to overcome Roberto Bautista Agut 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4), 6-4.
The Norwegian, who at fourth is the highest seed still standing, said he regrouped during a 69-minute interruption as thunderstorms passed over the area after two sets had been completed.
He said time in the locker room was the perfect antidote for a game which had gone slightly stale as he battled the Spaniard.
“Thanks to the weather gods,” he said. “It was a tough battle, the first two sets, two hours 20 minutes of good intensity.
“But I was feeling it a bit in the legs, it was tough to find my intensity. The rain gave me time to breathe and regain some energy.”
Ruud wrapped up a long afternoon on his fourth match point, ending with 54 winners and 39 unforced errors.
The seventh-ranked Ruud, who is the top target remaining after the second-round exits of Medvedev, Carlos Alcaraz and Stefanos Tsitsipas.