Marta Kostyuk, of Ukraine, hits a return to Emma Navarro at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto, Friday Aug. 9, 2024.

TORONTO (AP) — Defending champion Jessica Pegula advanced to the National Bank Open quarterfinals Friday, beating qualifier Ashlyn Krueger 6-2, 6-4 in windy conditions.

The third-seeded Pegula, from nearby Buffalo, New York, took advantage of Krueger’s nine double faults. Last year in Montreal, Pegula beat Liudmila Samsonova in the final.

In the night session, top-seeded faced No. 14 Diana Shnaider, and No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka played Katie Boulter.

In early matches, Taylor Townsend topped fourth-seeded Jelena Ostapenko 6-2, 6-1 and No. 8 Emma Navarro beat No. 11 Marta Kostyuk 7-5, 7-5.

Amanda Anisimova advanced after No. 10 Anna Kalinskaya of Russia retired because of dizziness. Anisimova took the first set 6-2.

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis