Serena, Halep, Barty Lead 9 Of Top 10 In Toronto Masters
The first big WTA of the summer begins in Toronto this week with a loaded field featuring nine of the Top 10 players including defending champion Simona Halep and 3-time winner Serena Williams.
The top seed will go to French Open champion Ash Barty with Australian Open winner Naomi Osaka in No. 2 seed slot.
Osaka could meet Serena in the quarterfinals. Serena, who is making her return after a tough loss in the Wimbledon final to Halep, could face former Australian semifinalist Elise Mertens, then US Open semifinalist Anastasija Sevastova before Osaka. Halep or Sloane Stephens could await the winner in the quarterfinals.
In the top half of the draw, Victoria Azarenka could collide with Elina Svitolina in the second round with the winner to possible face Barty.
Venus Williams opens against Carla Suarez Navarro while Maria Sharapova meets Anett Kontaveit. Should both Venus and Sharapova win, they would meet in the second round.
In a big early match-up, Indian Wells winner Bianca Andreescu takes on Eugenie Bouchard in a battle of Canadian stars.
The 19-year-old Andreescu has played just two tournaments and five matches since that big Indian Wells triumph.
Projected quarterfinals: Barty-Svitolina, Pliskova-Bertens, Stephens-Halep, Serena-Osaka.
Among the interesting first round matches: Kenin-Hsieh, Azarenka-Giorgi, Collins-Siniakova, Saurez Navarro-Venus, Sharapova-Kontaveit, Kerber-Kasatkina, Andreescu-Bouchard, Garcia-Ostapenko, Wozniacki-Putintseva.
2012 champion Petra Kvitova withdrew due to her forearm.
Last year, Halep beat Stephens in a 3-set final.
TORONTO MONDAY SCHEDULE
CENTRE COURT
STARTS AT 11:00 AM
UKR Dayana Yastremska v GBR Johanna Konta[13]
CAN Leylah Fernandez[WC] v CZE Marie Bouzkova
DEN Caroline Wozniacki[15] v KAZ Yulia Putintseva
NOT BEFORE 7:00 PM
RUS Maria Sharapova[WC] v EST Anett Kontaveit[16]
GER Angelique Kerber[12] v RUS Daria Kasatkina
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