WTA Canadian Open: Naomi Osaka bows out to Elise Mertens, Katie Boulter through, joins Coco Gauff in last 16

Naomi Osaka's journey at the Canadian Open came to an end after being beaten 6-3 6-4 by Elise Mertens. The world No.35 produced a confident and assured display to dispatch the four-time Grand Slam winner. Katie Boulter was the beneficiary of an early retirement from Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia, while Coco Gauff was made to work against qualifier Wang Yafan, despite claiming a 6-4 6-4 victory.

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Naomi Osaka bowed out of the Canadian Open after a straight-sets, second-round defeat to Elise Mertens.

The former world No.1 was beaten in one hour and 32 minutes by the Belgian, who will face Liudmila Samsonova in the last 16.

It was the second time Mertens has prevailed past Osaka in their three meetings this year, after winning 7-5 6-4 in their second round clash at Indian Wells last March.

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Mertens set her stall out early on after following up a hard-fought hold with an early break of Osaka's serve to go 2-0 up.

The Japanese broke back immediately though to halve the arrears, before the 28-year-old emphatically claimed a second break to move 5-3 ahead.

She would draw first blood on her own serve with a comprehensive hold to love.

Osaka's struggles continued in the second set after Mertens took another early break, but looked like making a resurgence when she penetrated through the Belgian's serve to restore parity at 3-3.

But Osaka's struggles were typified when Mertens immediately broke back to regain her advantage and seal the contest on her first match point at 6-4.

Boulter and Gauff both progress

Katie Boulter will join top seed Coco Gauff in the last 16 of the Canadian Open, after Beatriz Haddad Maia retired just two games into their second round clash.

The Brazilian was forced to abandon the contest early, struggling with a back issue which sees Boulter book a date with Aryna Sabalenka in the third round.

The world No. 42 Yuan Yue failed to topple the second seed in their match later on Thursday in Toronto with Sabalenka progressing in straight sets.

In Boulter's clash despite winning the first game on serve, Haddad Maia called for an emergency time out midway through the second, lying face-down on the floor to receive treatment for a back complaint.

She later attempted to resume the match, playing a tentative errant return to give Boulter the game before immediately calling an end to the contest.

The premature conclusion means British No. 1 Boulter is through to the last 16 of the event for the very first time.

Earlier, Coco Gauff confirmed her safe progression to the third round by beating China's Wang Yafan 6-4 6-4.

But in spite of the healthy-looking scoreline, the American was made to work for her last-16 spot.

Qualifier Wang, ranked No. 72 in the world, came back from 4-1 to level the first set and broke Gauff midway through the second to keep the contest alive.

But Gauff delivered when it mattered most, breaking Wang at set point and then at match point to seal a match against Diana Shnaider, who knocked out Britain's Harriet Dart in the first round.

Elsewhere, third seed Jessica Pegula capitalised on Karolina Pliskova's wayward serving to win 7-5 6-4.

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And there was more American success with lucky loser Taylor Townsend dropping just two games against home favourite and wildcard Marina Stakusic.

Anna Kalinskaya was also victorious, beating Ukraine's Lesia Tsurenko 6-2 6-2, as was sixth seed Liudmila Samsonova in her battle against qualifier Moyuka Uchijima.

Amanda Anisimova will face the Russian on Friday following her straight-sets triumph over fifth seed Daria Kasatkina.

But compatriot Madison Keys will not be joining Anisimova in the next round as her return from injury was cut short in the deciding set.

Peyton Stearns claimed a walkover victory with Keys retiring 3-0 down in the third set.

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