Joe McConnell
British No. 1 Katie Boulter advanced to the third round of the National Bank Open in Toronto after opponent Beatriz Haddad Maia was forced to retire after just two games in the match.
Brazil’s Haddad Maia had endured a marathon first-round match against Marie Bouzkova that lasted three hours and 20 minutes, but after her opening match against Boulter she had to call her coach straight away.
The world No. 33 underwent extensive treatment on her lower back and, although she tried to resume her serve, Haddad Maia quickly gave in after Boulter had levelled the set at 1-1.
Boulter, who beat Bernarda Pera in the first round, will face the winner of world number three Aryna Sabalenka or China’s Yuan Yue for a place in the quarter-finals.
Second seed Aryna Sabalenka faces world number 42 Yu Yuan Later, the winner will face Boulter for a place in the quarter-finals.
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Watch highlights of Coco Gauff’s win over Wang Yafan at the Canadian Open
Elsewhere Thursday, top seed Coco Gauff comfortably defeated Wang Yafan 6-4 6-4 in her second round match.
“I think I made more mistakes than usual, but overall, I think I built the points the right way,” said Gauff, who finished the match with 25 winners and 36 unforced errors. “I think I need to do better on the next couple of points. But overall, I’m happy with how I played.”
Gauff’s next opponent will be the No. 14 seed Diana Schneiderwho won a third-set tiebreaker for the second time in as many matches this week, defeating Poland’s Magdalena Frech.
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