While the men are in Toronto, the women are taking the court in Montreal for this week’s National Bank Open.
As usual, Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, and Elena Rybakina are the top three favorites with room to spare. After all, they are the proverbial “Big 3” of the WTA Tour these days (Marketa Vondrousova’s surprising Wimbledon title notwithstanding). However, Coco Gauff just triumphed in Washington, D.C. this past Sunday and is among the relative outsiders who are looking to triumph north of the border.
Here are a trio of longer shots outside Swiatek, Sabalenka, and Rybakina who could contend in Montreal.
Coco Gauff
Gauff’s success in the nation’s capital marked the biggest title of her young career. She also improved to 4-1 lifetime in WTA finals by erasing Maria Sakkari 6-2, 6-3. Sakkari wasn’t the only opponent who bowed out listlessly at Gauff’s hands; in fact, the 19-year-old American did lost a set the whole way and she did not even get pushed to a single tiebreaker. Gauff finds herself in Iga Swiatek’s half of the Montreal draw, but they wouldn’t go head-to-head until the semifinals and both Sabalenka and Rybakina are on the other side.
Petra Kvitova
Kvitova captured a surprise Premier 1000 title earlier this season in Miami and there is no reason why she can’t repeat that performance in Toronto. Conditions should be relatively similar (meaning fast), which is obviously good news for the Czech left-hander. Kvitova is opposite Swiatek in the bracket, which can only help her chances. It should also be noted that the 2012 Canada champion got married last month. When you are happy off the court, good things usually happen on the court.
Victoria Azarenka
Azarenka has never won this tournament, but she is a three-time semifinalist and reached the quarters last summer. The Belarusian has been in mostly good form this season (aside from whenever Elina Svitolina is on the other side of the net!) and has returned to the top 20 (currently No. 19). Azarenka wouldn’t run into Sabalenka until the semis and Swiatek (or Gauff) until the final, so the door is open for the 34-year-old.
who ya got?
Can’t pick against Iga
I did not pick Iga this time, but I hope she wins or goes deep enough to retain #1.
Elina not aggressive enough. Is overhitting as a,result.
Not looking good.
Well that was a,pretty horrible performance by Elina. Collins was,very good but she was,really off her game and didn’t look that motivated.
Just imagine how hard it may be for Ukrainian players to focus on tennis.
Marta Kostyuk lost her match but took a set off Qinwen Zheng, probably the best Chinese player. She challenges everyone.
Lesia Tsurenko withdrew from the tournament.
I am watching the Andreescu vs. Giogi match.
I did wonder if Elina was distracted by the bombing of Odesa her home town. It must be practically impossible to play at times.
I didn’t see Marta unfortunately as I watched all her matches in the Washington tournament. She is definitely on an upward curve atm. Her win against Andreescu was especially impressive.
The bombing of Odessa – it makes me sick hearing it said. Yes, her mom is there. And it also makes tennis so trivial. Putin’s war makes me sick. I can’t listen to the news without getting sick, especially when Trump is the lead story in the mainstream news every night. His popularity is disturbing.
You know I agree Elizabeth.
It’s hard for anyone who is not American or has not lived in America to understand the incredible political polarisation where one side seems not to care about anything as long as it means ‘ owning the libs’ or some other meaningless slogan. From outside the divisions seem based on the civil war.America is a very extreme country especially the religious right who are viewed as complete and utter deeply sinister nutters from the perspective of the UK and Europe.
Well played Karolina!😀
Huge win for Jessie Pegula.
Iga really does have issues with her fh. She hits a lot of winners with it but way too many ues. We’ve seen her fh misfire all year and on all surfaces.
Wow…Pegula on fire!….two big wins in two days! Congrats!!!!
I wish people would keep politics to the off topic forum.
The war in Ukraine is one thing , but theres no need to keep bringing Trump/Sun ak/Boris into tennis discussion.
And doesnt help that its usually one sided , no matter how justified that might appear
I wish you would stop sniping. You do it more than anyone on this site. It’s completely unnecessary.
I have actually never heard you say anything in support of Ukraine or the Ukrainian players. I have seen you post endlessly about poor Russians and Belarusian s especially Saba.
I like Sabalenka and the Russians as tennis players. Politics doesn’t enter that. That’s the whole point.While I fully sympathesize with Ukraine ,it’s nothing to do with tennis.
If I can I am going to try and fill in a bracket today. If someone can tell me how to do this I would be grateful…It’s been a long time since I did one..
Tennis draw challenge.It easy.Only thing to watch is they don’t update the draw for withdrawals etc.
As for sniping I accept from now on you got the monopoly on that.Ill try not to support Saba any more .
Do what you want. I am not going to argue with you or comment on what you have written.
Life is too short.
Ok
Who did you pick to win Montreal?
Ohh…u will join us in TDC amy?..YAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY!!…RC must be ecstatic!!
It would be really nice if someone actually wrote something about the WTA. I enjoyed the match between Jessie and Iga which I commented on above. Apart from Scoot and me no one has said anything about any recent matches.
Unfortunately I missed seeing Dasha against Elena. Given the length of Elena’s match it’s hard not to think Samsanova has the advantage.
I had Meddy in Montreal , felt it wasn’t going to be Alcaraz because he still recovering . Bit of a shock all the upsets.
Sorry that was Toronto. Montreal had Saba over Iga. I nearly always have Saba in the final
Who are you picking for cincy? Or do you not want to say until tomorrow…?!
I mean both men and women.
Alcaraz did poorly in the warm ups before USO last year. Don’t think it means anything. He and Novak are both tired…
The men’s has just closed so I can reveal I have Alcaraz over Djoko in the final. But agree it feels as if neither will be on great form. Most of them will be saving themselves for the Slam
Could have a surprise winner again .
Wouldn’t surprise me if both go out before the finals. Think both just want some match practice before USO.
I don’t entirely know where Novak is at right now. I am still very surprised by the exceptionally uncharacteristic mistakes he made in the wimby final especially in the tiebreak when ahead and with sp. Was this an aberration or a sign age is catching up with him?
Personally I dont read much into it .Its one match , not like his career is suddenly over. He did get beat quite badly in the US Open 21 yet bounced back.Could be just the pressure of going for the massive achievement.Theres been very few players who could cope with that .
Ill wait and see who wins the finals tonight then do the women’s. Haven’t much of a thought on it yet.
No. Hard to call. Am pleased for Jessie she has had some good results. I like a lot of the women…
Same here. Very few I dont like .I picked Coco to beat Jessie this time after backing the latter all year. Had her winning DC .Im just starting to watch the semi between Rybakina/Samosonova now. Always catching up with these matches on Prime .Cinci should be fairly quick so will suit the big hitters like these two and Saba
Girls, jow is counteroffensive going, what does The Comedian say?!