Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina advances to National Bank Open semifinals
Rybakina, the ninth seed, converted three of her 10 breakpoint chances in the quarterfinal matchup at IGA Stadium. The players shook hands at the 54-minute mark before the 24th-seeded Kostyuk exited the court in tears.
After the third game, Kostyuk's trainers wrapped her forearm in medical tape.
Rybakina will face the winner of Monday night's matchup between Canadian teen sensation Victoria Mboko and Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain.
Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff of the United States in straight sets Saturday, winning the lopsided match in just 62 minutes.
The 18-year-old from Toronto has surged from outside the top 300 to No. 85 in the world rankings in a breakthrough year.
Thursdays
Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.
The National Bank Open — a WTA 1000-level event — runs through the final on Thursday. The tournament's top-five seeds were eliminated before the quarterfinals.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 4, 2025.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
38 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
CF Montreal profits from Philadelphia Union transfer deal for forward Milan Iloski
PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Union acquired striker Milan Iloski from Denmark's FC Nordsjælland on Tuesday in a deal that netted CF Montreal up to US$250,000 (all figures in U.S. dollars) in general allocation money. Montreal was involved because it held the first overall spot in the MLS waiver order, allowing the Union to sign Iloski. Philadelphia sent the Canadian side its 21st spot in the waiver order. Montreal acquired $100,000 in 2025 general allocation money and up to $150,000 in conditional GAM. Philadelphia, which hosts Toronto FC in league play Saturday, has signed Iloski through 2027 with an option for 2028. Iloski, 26, played 14 games (including three starts) on loan with San Diego FC this season before returning to FC Nordsjælland in mid-July. 'Milan is a dynamic, instinctive goal scorer who thrives in attacking transition,' Philadelphia sporting director Ernst Tanner said in a statement. 'His ability to convert goal chances is extraordinary and he has a willingness to defend. We look forward to integrating him into the team quickly.' Iloski scored 10 goals and added one assist for San Diego, making MLS history by scoring four goals in a 12-minute span against the Vancouver Whitecaps to register the fastest four-goal performance in league history. Before joining San Diego, Iloski scored 43 goals and added 11 assists in 70 matches over two seasons for Orange County SC in the USL Championship. In 2022, he won the league's Golden Boot with 22 goals in 31 games. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. A native of Escondido, Calif., Iloski played three seasons at UCLA. He played for Golden State Force and Ogden City SC before signing with Real Salt Lake as a homegrown player in 2020. In other Montreal news, defender Fernando Álvarez has been suspended two games for 'showing disrespect' to the match officials in a 2-1 Leagues Cup loss to Mexico's Toluca on Friday. Alvarez, shown a red card after the final whistle, will miss Tuesday's Leagues Cup game against Mexico's Puebla. If Montreal does not advance in the tournament, Alvarez will serve the second game of his suspension in the next edition of the Leagues Cup. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 5, 2025
Cision Canada
an hour ago
- Cision Canada
Canadian Paralympian Chelsey Gotell a candidate for IPC vice-president Français
OTTAWA, ON, Aug. 5, 2025 /CNW/ - Accomplished Canadian Paralympian and global sport leader Chelsey Gotell has officially declared her candidacy for vice-president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) ahead of the upcoming IPC Governing Board elections in Seoul, South Korea. With over 25 years in the Paralympic Movement, Gotell brings unparalleled experience – as a three-time Paralympian, current IPC Governing Board member-at-large, and former chair of the IPC Athletes' Council. "The Paralympic Movement changed my life – and now I'm ready to shape its next chapter," said Gotell. "I'm running for vice-president because I believe in taking decisive action, championing ideas, and delivering real impact. Over the past four years on the IPC Governing Board, I've worked alongside leaders across our Movement – building trust, strengthening relationships, and driving initiatives that matter. "With lived experience as an athlete, sport administrator, advocate, and governance leader, I understand both the heart of this Movement and the systems that shape it. Now is the time to act with purpose, stay true to our values, and work together to ensure the IPC is inclusive, united, and future-ready for generations to come." A three-time Paralympian in Para swimming, Gotell competed at the Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, and Beijing 2008 Games – winning 12 medals, including three gold. She also set two world records in Beijing and remains one of Canada's most decorated Paralympic swimmers. Since retiring from competition, Gotell has continued to shape the Paralympic Movement through influential roles with the IPC, Canadian Paralympic Committee, World Anti-Doping Agency, and the International Olympic Committee. She was also part of Canadian team staff at multiple Games, including London 2012, Sochi 2014, and Rio 2016, and worked with the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee. "Chelsey is an accomplished and effective leader, with years of experience – first as an athlete and second as an elected representative – driving change at the international level of Paralympic sport," said Marc-André Fabien, president, Canadian Paralympic Committee. "Her commitment and determination to advance the Paralympic Movement, unwavering belief in the power of sport to create a more inclusive and stronger society, and passion for working alongside the entire Paralympic community have served her well in every position she has fulfilled in her career. We are proud to see her advancing her leadership in running for vice-president and know she would continue her impactful work in this role." Voting will take place during the IPC General Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, on September 26. Elections will be held for the president, one female and one male vice-president, and seven members-at-large. These elected roles will join the chair and first vice-chair of the IPC Athletes' Council and two appointed members to form the IPC Governing Board.
CTV News
4 hours ago
- CTV News
Canadian teen sensation Victoria Mboko advances to NBO semifinals in Montreal
Victoria Mboko of Canada celebrates her win over Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain during quarterfinal tennis action at the National Bank Open in Montreal, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi MONTREAL — Two days after ousting top seed Coco Gauff in 62 minutes, there was no letdown for Victoria Mboko — even if she needed to dig a little deeper to keep her dream run alive. The Canadian teenage sensation booked her place in the National Bank Open semifinals with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro on Monday night. Mboko does it again! 💥 The Canadian wildcard is through to the semifinals in Montreal and the dream run continues🎾#NBO25 | @nationalbank — Omnium Banque Nationale (@OBNmontreal) August 5, 2025 The first set, despite her win, was messy and filled with errors for both players. The second got off to what Mboko called a 'slow, rocky start,' with the 18-year-old from Toronto down 2-0 and a break early. Then the momentum shifted. The rising star who rarely seems to lose finished strong, winning six straight games to close out the match. 'I was a fighter in that situation,' Mboko said. 'That moment was just pure fight-or-flight instincts. 'I really wanted to do the best I could to break her back, and I did everything in my power to stay in there and match her, match what she was producing.' Mission accomplished. She broke back in the fourth, sixth and eighth games while holding serve throughout. Bouzas Maneiro's backhand sailed long on match point, and Mboko dropped her arms and smiled in disbelief after 77 minutes on centre court at IGA Stadium. Then she ran to her handshake and blew kisses to the crowd while it celebrated with a standing ovation. 'So excited to be in a semifinal here, I want to thank everyone for your support once again,' Mboko, who trained in Montreal as a junior, told the crowd. 'It's been an unreal experience and I couldn't be more grateful.' Mboko is the first Canadian to reach the WTA 1000 event's semifinals since Bianca Andreescu's title run in 2019 — and the first to do so in Montreal in the Open Era. She's also the youngest woman to reach the semis since Belinda Bencic's 2015 win in Toronto. And there's more: Monica Seles (1995) and Simona Halep (2015) are the only other women to make the final four after entering the tournament as a wild card. It's been a breakthrough year for Mboko, who has surged from outside the top 300 to No. 85 in the world rankings. That number is projected to climb to at least No. 48 after she boosted her record to 25-8 against higher-ranked players and 51-9 in all competitions. Mboko hit three aces and won 58.2 per cent of the points while converting five of nine breakpoint chances and saving three of five. The hometown favourite also won 16 of 20 points on the 51st-ranked Bouzas Maneiro's second serve. Beyond the second set turnaround, she also showed resolve in the first. At 2-2, Mboko fell in a 15-40 hole, but ultimately took the prolonged game thanks to five service winners, regularly opening points with 180-kilometre-per-hour strikes. 'I don't want to say there's really a secret,' Mboko said of pulling through when her back is against the wall. 'Being calm in such stressful situations is key to delivering what you want to do in those tight moments. 'The human reaction is always to tense up and act out, but I think if I project calmness and relaxness, I'm going to also have the same thing in my head … that's what's been helping me get through those tough and tight situations.' As the last Canadian remaining in singles, Mboko has made a name for herself at home, putting her powerful ball-striking on display in her first National Bank Open main draw. She will meet Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina in Wednesday's semifinals. The ninth-seeded Rybakina — who knocked Mboko out in the round-of-16 at the D.C. Open in July — advanced after Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk was forced to retire with a wrist injury while trailing 6-1, 2-1 earlier Monday night. The tournament, which runs through Thursday's final, is wide open after the top-five seeds failed to reach the quarterfinals. After two injury-plagued years, Mboko — who had shown promise as a junior — opened the season with a 22-match winning streak and captured five titles on the lower-tier ITF Tour. She then qualified for her first Grand Slam main draw at the French Open, reaching the third round, before stunning 25th seed Magdalena Frech in the first round at Wimbledon. And the upsets keep coming. In Montreal, Mboko has dropped just one set, rattling off wins over 79th-ranked Kimberly Birrell, 23rd seed Sofia Kenin, 39th-ranked Marie Bouzkova and Gauff, the world No. 2. 'I was really happy to have won that day, but at the end of the day, I'm still in the tournament,' Mboko said of her milestone win over Gauff. 'It's not like I went to celebrate or anything. I was still locked in like I normally am in a tournament. You play a tournament because you want to win it.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 4, 2025 Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press
