The WTA Rogers Cup is back and packed full of talented players looking to lift the trophy. Among those hopefuls are the likes of Ons Jabeur and Garbine Muguruza. With former world #1s, Grand Slam champions and top ten players galore in the main draw this promises to be an amazing tournament. There are several matches on Monday. So, be sure to browse the other WTA Toronto day 1 predictions pieces for insights on matches not featured here. With that in mind, let’s get stuck in to the three matches covered in this article.
WTA Toronto Day 1 Predictions
Jelena Ostapenko vs Anhelina Kalinina
Head-to-head: 1 – 0 Ostapenko
Any matches featuring the mercurial Jelena Ostapenko are difficult to call. The Latvian is one of the cleanest ball strikers on the tour and can hit literally anyone off the court on her day. However, she can also hit 40 unforced errors and 10 double faults in a match. She can lose to anyone and beat anyone and it’s rare that she plays somewhere in the middle. That being said, she beat Anhelina Kalinina in straight sets earlier this year, so that’s something of a guide. Off the back of that performance I’ll back Ostapenko to win here. However, I wouldn’t put too much stock in that as she could very easily not turn up and get thumped.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 3
Sloane Stephens vs Sofia Kenin
Head-to-head: 2 – 0 Kenin
Sofia Kenin’s vanishing act has been on of the more confusing stories on the WTA Tour over the last two years. The American won the Australian Open and stormed to #4 in the world in 2020. In 2021, she started terribly, got COVID-19 and then fell off the face of the earth. The American has lost seven matches in a row and is in desperate need of a win to jumpstart her year. Fortunately for her, she faces another struggling American in Sloane Stephens. Stephens continues to shower flashes of her old safe before falling back into a hole of poor tennis resulting in unexpected losses. This match may well be a case of whoever plays the least badly wins it because it’s hard to see either player coming out and taking this match by the scruff of the neck. I’ll take Kenin to win it given her dominance in their previous encounters.
Prediction: Kenin in 3
Caroline Garcia vs Alize Cornet
Head-to-head: 3 – 2 Garcia
It’s still early days, but it looks like we might finally have top ten Caroline Garcia back. The French star has won two WTA titles in the last two months. On the whole, she has been far more consistent and impressive in 2022 and the signs are there that she is heading back towards her best. That level saw her reach #4 in the world once. A late charge up the rankings that year saw her make the WTA Finals and she may well be eyeing a similar feat in 2022. She faces a fellow French star in Alize Cornet here. Cornet is also enjoying a career year, with deep runs at the Australian Open and Wimbledon reviving a sputtering career. Garcia’s level has been too good in recent weeks not to pick her, but I expect this to be a good contest either way.
Prediction: Garcia in 3
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