WTA Montréal: Sabalenka and Halep with a demanding draw
Aryna Sabalenka leads the field at the WTA Tour 1000 tournament in Montréal. Comeback Simona Halep could meet a strong player in the first match.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Aug 08, 2021, 06:25 am
Sabalenka starts like all eight top players with a bye and could meet her compatriot Victoria Azarenka in the quarter-finals. The latter, however, had to withdraw from an exhibition match in Washington due to an injury, and Azarenka was also absent from the Olympic Games in Tokyo. The first task for Sabalenka could also be a test: It goes against either Sloane Stephens or Dayana Yastremska.
At the bottom of the tableau a Canadian duel is announced: Bianca Andreescu, US Open winner of 2019 and defending champion in Montréal (Andreescu won in Toronto two years ago, the tournament was canceled in 2020 due to the corona pandemic), is waiting on the winner of the match between a qualifier and Leylah Fernandez. The left-hander has not won much in the past few weeks, but Fernandez has long proven her potential for great deeds with her victory in the juniors in Roland Garros.
It could have been easier for Simona Halep: The Romanian is waiting for the winner of the match between Danielle Collins, who is currently playing in top form, and the Swiss Jill Teichmann. Small advantage for Halep, should it go against Collins: She's still busy in San Jose this weekend. And travel to Montréal a little tired.