Brady Saves MPs v Ostapenko In Rainy Montreal, Gets Rybakina; Wozniacki Makes Return Tomorrow

Comebacks will be the theme of the of the week in Montreal and today saw Jennifer Brady come from 4-1 down in the third and two match points to deny Jelena Ostapenko 7-6(9-7), 0-6, 7-6(10-8) to reach the Canadian Open second round.

“I have no idea how I won that match,” the 28-year-old Brady said to the WTA. “On the court I don’t feel like I’m moving as good as I want to, I’m not hitting the ball as deep or heavy as I want to. I’m not playing good tennis, I’m just playing tennis. That’s how I feel on court.”

“I knew it was the last match I played before I was injured. I was really looking forward to it. I wish I could have played a better match, but who cares. People only look at the result, so I’m happy that I somehow won this match.”

Brady had been off for two years with foot and knee issues, and will now face former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina tomorrow.

Former finalist Madison Keys knocked out the 43-year-old Venus Williams 6-2, 7-5. Venus was down a break in the second but fought back to 5-all.

12th-seeded and one-time champion Belinda Bencic sent out 24-year-old Lucia Bronzetti 6-2, 6-3. Former No. 1 Victoria Azarenka had a comfortable win over Magda Linette 6-3, 6-0.

Italy’s Jasmine Paolini topped Donna Vekic of Croatia 7-6(7-3), 6-2. Former finalist Karolina Pliskova moved past China’s Lin Zhu 6-3, 6-7(8-10), 6-2.Sloane Stephens overcame Anhelina Kalinina 6-4, 7-6(7-2). Past runner-up Sorana Cirstea handled Varvara Gracheva in straight sets 6-4, 7-6(7-3) and Katie Boulter crushed Canada’s Rebecca Marino 6-3, 6-1.

On a busy Tuesday with first and second round matches mixed together, No. 5 Caroline Garcia will meet Marie Bouzkova, Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova clashes with Mayar Sherif, 2022 finalist Beatriz Haddad Maia faces Magdalena Frech, French runner-up Karolina Muchova will take on Anastasia Potapova and Azarenka clashes with Sloane Stephens.

Former winners Bianca Andreescu and Camila Giorgi and meet, Elina Svitolina tests Danielle Collins and former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki makes her return to the sport after over three years to face qualifier Kimberly Birrell.