Women's third seed Naomi Osaka punched her quarterfinal ticket at the Washington Open, advancing when American Ashlyn Krueger retired while trailing 6-3, 3-1 on Wednesday.
Japan's Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion coming off a quarterfinal appearance at Wimbledon, cut a confident figure on the Washington hardcourts.
But she admitted it was hard to stay focused with Krueger still hindered after receiving treatment on her right ankle while trailing 4-1 in the first set.
"It's a tough situation, and I hope that she gets better ASAP," Osaka said.
She'll next face Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto, who toppled eighth-seeded American Emma Navarro 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
1/2 QF 🔒@mubadaladcopen | #MubadalaDCOpen pic.twitter.com/Uz4xakf7ty
— wta (@WTA) July 30, 2026
Filipina rising star Alexandra Eala dumped out defending women's champion Leylah Fernandez to reach the quarterfinals.
Eala, 21, defeated the seventh seed from Canada 6-2, 7-6 (7/1), battling back from 5-1 down in an epic second set.
It continues a breakout season for Eala, who stunned Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon last month to become the first Philippines player to reach the last 16 of a Grand Slam.
"Everything's kind of a blur right now. I really made an effort to stay in the moment, and I was ready for anything that could have happened," Eala, now ranked 28th in the world, said.