In Montreal, Canada, the tennis spotlight will be on several exciting matches as the Canada title defense begins. Jessica Pegula, ranked third in the world, faces off against a reinvigorated Maria Sakkari, while Felix Auger-Aliassime takes on Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan, and Belinda Bencic competes against Eugenie Bouchard, who is playing the last tournament of her career.
Jessica Pegula enters her match against Sakkari with a slight edge in their head-to-head record, leading 6-5. After a strong start to the season by clinching the Bad Homburg title prior to Wimbledon, Pegula has faced recent setbacks, including early exits at both Wimbledon and Washington. She will need to find her rhythm quickly to defend her title after struggling with consistency. Conversely, Sakkari, who has recently started to regain confidence in her game, hopes to exploit her underdog status to climb back up the rankings.
Felix Auger-Aliassime’s match against Fabian Marozsan marks their first encounter. Auger-Aliassime, currently ranked 28th, has battled an inconsistent season but seeks to harness the support from his home crowd to elevate his performance. Marozsan, ranked 56th in the world, is a promising talent with a powerful and tech-savvy game. This matchup is poised to be a challenging test for Auger-Aliassime, who has shown that he often performs well on home soil.
Meanwhile, Swiss star Belinda Bencic, the 17th seed, aims to capitalize on her remarkable season that has seen her reach the Wimbledon semi-finals. Facing the retired Eugenie Bouchard, who performed admirably in her recent match against Emiliana Arango, Bencic will look to maintain her momentum and focus on her aggressive forehand to apply pressure throughout the match. Bouchard, a former top-five player and Grand Slam finalist, hopes to leave the sport on a high note in front of her local fans, adding an emotional layer to the match.
As anticipation builds in Montreal for these thrilling contests, tennis fans can expect competitive matchups that highlight both emerging and established talents in the sport. The outcomes of these matches could significantly impact the players’ journeys leading up to the US Open, not to mention the emotional farewells and fierce aspirations involved.