After Coco Gauff lifted the title in Washington D.C., the US Open Series continues to hot up as we get into the Canada Masters with the WTA playing in Montreal and ATP in Toronto. As always, we here at LWOT will preview and predict every match. We also look at the rest of the day’s matches, split between two articles. One features Venus Williams vs Madison Keys and the second features Victoria Azarenka vs Magda Linette. Who do you think will win?
WTA Montreal Day 1 Predictions
Sloane Stephens vs Anhelina Kalinina
Head-to-head: Stephens 1-1 Kalinina
2018 Montreal finalist Sloane Stephens has played sparingly in recent months, making the fourth round at Roland Garros, second round at Wimbledon, and losing her Washington opener to Lauren Davis last week. Kalinina is still looking to recapture her Rome form since she suffered an injury there, yet to win back-to-back matches since and getting just three games against Jennifer Brady last week. Both players are lacking form but with Stephens’ past success here, the American should be a favorite.
Prediction: Stephens in 2
Embed from Getty Images
Katie Boulter vs Rebecca Marino
Head-to-head: first meeting
Boulter had another strong grass season, winning her maiden WTA title in Nottingham and reaching a Wimbledon third round. Boulter lost to Leylah Fernandez in Washington qualifying but got through it in Montreal, dropping a total of ten games in wins over Miriam Bianca Bulgaru and Marina Bassols Ribera. Marino is making just her second main draw appearance in Montreal and the Canadian is coming in ready, making the semifinals of an ITF 100 in Granby. This should be a pretty even match-up but I will lean toward Boulter here.
Prediction: Boulter in 3
Embed from Getty Images
[cta id=591 type=cta]
Alyca Parks vs Lauren Davis
Head-to-head: first meeting
Parks is an explosive yet inconsistent player and she has shown that again recently, winning just four games against Hailey Baptiste in Washington qualifying, fighting hard to beat No. 414 Marina Stakusic 7-5 in the third in the first round of Montreal qualifying before sweeping Cristina Bucsa 6-1 6-2. Davis, making her first Montreal appearance since 2014, is coming off of a decent week in Washington. The 29-year-old came back from a set down twice to qualify before taking out Sloane Stephens. This match could go either way based on which version of Parks we get on the day but Davis has the consistency to give her trouble.
Prediction: Davis in 3
Embed from Getty Images
Daria Kasatkina vs Elise Mertens
Head-to-head: Kasatkina 5-2 Mertens
Rematch of a first-round match from Washington last week that marked Kasatkina’s fifth win over Mertens. The 26-year-old got humbled in the next round, winning just four games against Elina Svitolina, marking her eighth loss to the Ukrainian. Mertens, who lost to Svitolina herself at Wimbledon, chose to play the first clay edition of the Hopman Cup in Nice, getting two wins but cutting into her hardcourt preparation. Mertens has been able to beat Kasatkina in the past, taking her out in Miami earlier this year, but Kasatkina clearly had the upper hand last time out.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 2
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
