WTA Toronto: Halep rolls over Vekic, Serena continues, Rybakina struggles
Simona Halep , Serena Williams and Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina have reached the second round of the WTA Tour 1000 event in Toronto.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Aug 08, 2022, 08:32 pm
Simona Halep didn't spend long with Donna Vekic: The 2019 Wimbledon winner was only on the court for 61 minutes, giving her Croatian opponent no chance at 6-0 and 6-2. Halep starts in Toronto in 15th position, next opponents are either Zhang Shuai or Christina Bucsa.
The current Wimbledon winner had more problems: Elena Rybakina, who defeated Halep in the semifinals in London, won against Marie Bouzkova in a three-hour match 7: 5, 6: 7 (3) and 6: 1. Rybakina, unseeded in Toronto (Wimbledon was notoriously not awarded points this year), now plays either Madison Brengle or Cori Gauff.
Finally, Serena Williams also had a sense of achievement on Monday: The 23-time major winner won against Nuria Parrizas Diaz 6: 3 and 6: 4. And could now come against Belinda Bencic. It was Williams' first win since her comeback.