Preparations for the US Open will really start to hot up as the WTA tour heads to Toronto for the Rogers Cup. The draw is, as ever, stacked with talent and the competition for the title looks set to be fierce. But who will advance on day one?
Toronto Rogers Cup Day One Predictions
Sofia Kenin vs Su-Wei Hsieh
Head-to-head: Kenin 1-0 Hsieh
Both women come into this match having had solid, if not spectacular years. But it will surely be the American Sofia Kenin who is happier to be back on hard courts. The American has a game well-suited to the conditions in North America and could well be set for a big end to the year. Hsieh, meanwhile, is never an easy opponent to face thanks to her unorthodox style. But her game is much more dangerous on fast slick courts. On the medium-pace surface in Toronto, the consistent power of Kenin, who beat Hsieh 6-1 6-1 on a hard court in Wuhan last season, will surely tell.
Prediction: Kenin in 2
Embed from Getty Images
Elise Mertens vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich
Head-to-head: Sasnovich 2-0 Mertens
This is surely amongst the most intriguing matchups on day one at the Rogers Cup in Toronto. The Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich may have one both of their previous encounters, which came last year in Cincinnati and Wuhan, but both were exceptionally close. The pair employ a similar style of play, relying on accuracy off the ground and good court coverage to grind opponents down. As a result, expect long rallies to be the order of the day. It also looks set to be a close contest. But Mertens already has a hard-court match under her belt and that might just give her the edge.
Prediction: Mertens in 3
Embed from Getty Images
Marie Bouzkova vs Leylah Annie Fernandez
Head-to-head: first meeting
It has been the year of the teenaged wildcards on the WTA tour and Canada’s Leylah Annie Fernandez will surely be hoping to add her name to that list by making her mark in Toronto. But she faces a tough opening assignment up against Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic. The 21-year-old played some fine tennis to come through the qualifying, beating Jovana Jaksic and Sachia Vickery, both in straight-sets, to reach the main draw. Fernandez looks set to have a bright future, but the edge Bouzkova has in physicality and experience seems to great for the 16-year-old to bridge.
Prediction: Bouzkova in 2
Embed from Getty Images
Angelique Kerber vs Daria Kasatkina
Head-to-head: Kerber 4-3 Kasatkina
Both Angelique Kerber and Daria Kasatkina have endured difficult years by the high standards they have previously set, the Russian particularly so. Indeed, she has won just six matches on tour and currently finds herself ranked 40th in the world. Kerber has at least won 25 matches, even if she has fallen out of the top ten. At their best, both women cover the court superbly and possess the ability to seize control of points, even when on the stretch, with penetrating linear shots. Neither is currently playing particularly close to that best, but Kerber is certainly in better form. Expect her to claim the win as a result.
Prediction: Kerber in 3
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
