Tauson stuns Swiatek to reach Canadian Open quarters

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Denmark’s Clara Tauson pulled off the biggest upset of the National Bank Open, stunning world No. 3 Iga Swiatek 7-6, 6-3 to advance to the quarterfinals on Aug. 4, 2025, in Montreal.

After cruising past Yuliia Starodubtseva in the Round of 32, Tauson carried her momentum into a commanding straight-set victory over the reigning Wimbledon champion.

Swiatek struggled with Tauson’s heavy topspin forehands, which disrupted her footwork and led to a slow start.

Tauson opened aggressively, unleashing laser-quick forehands and backing them with a steady, defensive backhand.

No matter what variation Swiatek attempted, Tauson stayed locked in, following her team’s game plan to attack Swiatek’s wide side.

The tactic worked as Tauson reeled off three straight games before Swiatek responded with a break point to force a tiebreak.

Swiatek initially held her ground against Tauson’s barrage, but midway through the tiebreak, the Danish underdog surged with three consecutive winners to seize control.

Swiatek had a chance to close the gap, but Tauson sealed the set with a pinpoint down-the-line forehand to take a 1-0 lead.

Tauson continued her power play in the second set, blasting on-the-rise shots that overwhelmed Swiatek’s defense.

Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion, abandoned her usual rhythm and resorted to drop shots, but Tauson’s relentless pace neutralized the strategy.

With the straight-sets win, Tauson delivered the tournament’s biggest surprise to date.

However, the job is far from over.

She is set to face former Grand Slam champion Madison Keys in the quarterfinals on Aug. 6.