Day three at the Rogers Cup boasts a slate full of intriguing matches with a number of the biggest stars in the game in action in Toronto, including the return to action of Wimbledon champion Simona Halep. But who will book their place in the third round?
WTA Toronto Rogers Cup Day Three Predictions
Serena Williams vs Elise Mertens
Head-to-head: first meeting
In her first match since her one-sided loss at the hands of Simona Halep in the Wimbledon final, 23-time Major champion Serena Williams faces a tough opening test at the Rogers Cup up against Elise Mertens. The Belgian, a former-semifinalist at the Australian Open, looked sharp in battling past the talented Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the first round, though she was taken the distance. But if Williams, as she claims, is pain free then the great American should have more than enough to see off Mertens’ challenge.
Prediction: Williams in 2
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Bianca Andreescu vs Daria Kasatkina
Head-to-head: first meeting
Daria Kasatkina claimed a much-needed win by defeating the struggling Angelique Kerber in the first round, despite dropping the opening set to love. Her next challenge will be to take on Bianca Andreescu and a sure to be partisan crowd. The Canadian Andreescu, who stunned the tennis world earlier this season by winning the title in Indian Wells, has hardly been in action since due to injuries. But she impressed in her comeback against her compatriot Eugenie Bouchard, battling to a three-set win. If she can stay focused and use the crowd to her advantage, expect her to claim victory again in this clash.
Prediction: Andreescu in 3
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Jelena Ostapenko vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Head-to-head: Ostapenko 2-1 Pavlyuchenkova
2017 French Open Jelena Ostapenko has endured another season plagued by inconsistency, but when she is at her best she can be almost unstoppable, as she showed in dismissing France’s Caroline Garcia 6-3 6-3 in the first round. Pavlyuchenkova, meanwhile, had to battle hard to beat ninth seed Aryna Sabalenka 7-5 in the third having lost the opening set. It was a fine performance from the Russian, but it might leave her short of energy up against Ostapenko. And that could well prove fatal when faced with the Latvian’s thunderous groundstrokes.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 3
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Carla Suarez Navarro vs Anett Kontaveit
Head-to-head: Suarez Navarro 2-1 Kontaveit
Carla Suarez Navarro perhaps exceeded expectations by dismissing an out of sorts Venus Williams 6-4 6-2 in the first round and will now surely have high hopes of putting together a deep run at the Rogers Cup. But standing between her and a place in the third round is 16th seed Anett Kontaveit, who battled past former-world #1 Maria Sharapova 4-6 6-3 6-3 after two hours and 40 minutes spent on court. But after a day of rest, fatigue should not be a major problem for the Estonian. And she is undoubtedly the more accomplished hard-courter having dispatched Suarez Navarro 6-0 6-3 earlier this season in Brisbane. Expect another win for Kontaveit.
Prediction: Kontaveit in 2
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