Unseeded Serena Williams, Clijsters to Meet Early at Rogers Cup

by Staff | August 7th, 2011, 4:57 pm
  • 10 Comments

The women’s Rogers Cup kicks off Monday in Toronto with a lot of excitement and a lot of question marks.
ADHEREL

World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki is the defending champ, but she has been handed a difficult draw, including Venus Williams early on. Venus is a question mark coming off injury, as is world No. 2 Kim Clijsters, making her debut on the U.S. summer hardcourts.

The favorite in many people’s eyes, Serena Williams after her 0-to-60 m.p.h. quick return from injury, is looking at a third-round match-up with Clijsters.


Here’s a look at the breakdown of the draw and field for the 2011 Rogers Cup:

Rogers Cup Presented by National Bank
Toronto, Canada
Surface: hard

Seeds: Caroline Wozniacki, Kim Clijsters, Vera Zvonareva, Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova, Li Na, Petra Kvitova, Francesca Schiavone, Marion Bartoli, Sam Stosur, Andrea Petkovic, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Aggie Radwanska, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Jelena Jankovic, Dominika Cibulkova

Floaters: Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Yanina Wickmayer, Ana Ivanovic, Nadia Petrova, Jelena Dokic, Maria Kirilenko, Julia Goerges

Notes: Brutal draw for the world No. 1 Wozniacki, after a bye likely starting against Wickmayer, then the unseeded Venus Williams (who must first get by fellow former No. 1 Ivanovic and (16) Cibulkova); (3) Zvonarova likely looking at a tough all-Russian opener against the veteran Petrova; (5) Sharapova after a bye an interesting opener against Top 5er Dokic; (9) Bartoli opens against a qualifier, then faces the winner of Kirilenko-Flavia Pennetta; (14) Pavlyuchenkova likewise opens against qualifier, then face the winner of Daniel Hantuchova-Gisela Dulko; (15) Jankovic in a tough opener vs. Goerges, winner to face Serena Williams, than that winner vs. (2) Clijsters; former champs in the field are Wozniacki (2010), Ivanovic (2006), Clijsters (2005), and Serena Williams (2001).


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10 Comments for Unseeded Serena Williams, Clijsters to Meet Early at Rogers Cup

Kimberly Says:

actually a pretty loaded field, nice that most of the top players are well enough to make it. i guess Lisicki ranked too low to play?

August 7th, 2011 at 7:12 pm


Kimmi Says:

excited to see kvitova play again. Kim too, but it must suck to play serena so early on her first tournament back.

August 7th, 2011 at 8:17 pm


Kimmi Says:

serena and wozniacki on hardcourt, this is the match i want to see..i dont think it will be in rogers cup though.

August 7th, 2011 at 8:25 pm


BT Says:

Venus is now out with viral illness.

August 7th, 2011 at 10:59 pm


Kimmi Says:

BT – venus out? something is up with venus and toronto, she never won a match here.

August 8th, 2011 at 3:59 am


Kimberly Says:

kimmi. you are there. right. will you go watch live?

August 8th, 2011 at 7:36 am


Kimmi Says:

Hi kimberly, yes i am in toronto. No i wont go watch live but will be glued on TV. I think it will be a great tournament, almost all the top players are playing so we are guarantee great matches.

August 8th, 2011 at 8:15 am


Kimberly Says:

Kimmi—-I think both tournaments are going to be great! For once I am as excited for the womens as the mens although after Maria’s dismal match against Williams in standford my hopes are not that high for her. But the rest of the field should be interesting, Wozniaki, Kvitova, Serena, Kim. Will kind of see where everyone stands.

Last two years in Miami I have gone, a few years before that I chose to stay home. Although if you haven’t heard Azarenka’s birthing sound live, you are missing one of life’s odder experiences. Now that Colino6 is so into it I will go again, although he is more into getting the overpriced ($32) tennis ball signed by the players than actually watching the matches.

I have a fair amount of clients from Toronto buying winter homes from me, they are all so nice! They says its hot there as well now? Can’t be as bad as here. It’s over 90 degree every day if it doesn’t rain.

August 8th, 2011 at 11:50 am


dari Says:

I missed the cutoff for atp challenge. Major bummer, meant to finish this am :(

August 8th, 2011 at 1:19 pm


margot Says:

kimmi, I seem to remember u stuck you head out of the window last year when it rained and rained and kept giving us useful weather forecasts…;)
Oh bummer dari
jane “William” books by Richmal Crompton are absolute classics -short stories. He is 11 years old, constantly at war with adults because they want him to stay clean, sit still and do quiet activities…imagine??? However, no moralising in these tales as William usually comes out on top! Based on her younger brother, I believe.
Martin Jarvis has also recorded them, almost as delightful :)

August 8th, 2011 at 2:06 pm

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