Coco Gauff beats Katie Boulter at Canadian Open in Montreal opener, Iga Swiatek comes through Karolina Pliskova battle

Coco Gauff eased past Katie Boulter to reach the last 16 of the Canadian Open in Montreal.

Gauff, who is looking to win the first WTA 1000 title of her career, will next face Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova or former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki.

World No. 1 Iga Swiatek also made a winning start as she beat Karolina Pliskova 7-6(6) 6-2.

Swiatek next meets Karolina Muchova in a repeat of the French Open final, while world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka plays her first match since Wimbledon against Petra Martic later on Wednesday.

Gauff didn’t drop a set during her title run in Washington DC and she was fast out of the blocks against Boulter, winning eight of the opening nine points to secure up a 2-0 lead.

A big forehand winner down the line sealed a third straight game for Gauff and she broke to love for 4-0.

After winning just three of the first 19 points of the match, Boulter broke to get on the board and then held to love to close the advantage to two games.

But Gauff’s powerful and aggressive approach saw her respond with a love hold and then a third break to win the set.

Boulter offered more resistance at the start of the second set, pushing Gauff in a lengthy opening game before holding to love to put the pressure back on the sixth seed.

But Boulter couldn’t stay with Gauff as she lost serve to fall 3-1 behind.

Boulter fended off three match points in the eighth game but Gauff eventually sealed the win.

Swiatek was given a sterner test by Pliskova, especially in a 62-minute first set.

Swiatek broke serve twice but both times was immediately broken back and eventually came through in a tie-breaker.

The second set was more one-sided as Swiatek opened up a 3-0 lead and eased to victory.

“For sure, it was a battle,” said Swiatek.

“I kind of progressed through the match. For sure, it wasn’t easy. I’m happy that in the second set I was more solid.”

Elena Rybakina overcame a strong challenge from Jennifer Brady to win 6-7(3) 7-6(5) 6-3.

World No. 4 Rybakina was two points from defeat in the second-set tie-breaker against former US Open runner-up Brady, who recently returned after two years out.

But Rybakina took the set and then took her chance down the stretch to win the match.

Fourth seed Jessica Pegula beat Yulia Putintseva 6-4 6-4 and Belinda Bencic won 6-3 5-7 6-4 against Alycia Parks.

Sloane Stephens and Jasmine Paolini both advanced without playing as their respective opponents Victoria Azarenka and Madison Keys withdrew due to injuries.