Interesting starts for (17) Keys vs. American countrywoman (LL) Pera, the struggling (9) Stephens vs. Pavlyuchenkova, (3) Kerber vs. the unpredictable Mladenovic, (10) Goerges vs. Konta, (7) Pliskova vs. (WC) Stosur, (12) Ostapenko vs. Rybarikova, (14) Muguruza vs. Makarova, and (2) Wozniacki vs. Bencic…

Tough starts for (4) Kerber vs. Pavlyuchenkova who she is 6-6 career against, the wrist-addled (13) Keys vs. (WC) Mattek-Sands in an all-American, (9) Pliskova vs. Radwanska (winner to meet Konta), (6) Garcia vs. (WC) Azarenka, (8) Kvitova vs. the Serena-Gavrilova winner, (15) Mertens vs. Rybarikova who she has a losing record against, (5) Svitolina vs. (WC) Kuznetsova, and (2) Wozniacki vs. the Bertens-Vandeweghe winner…

The Group of Death contains two former No. 1s, a No. 2, and last year’s US Open semifinalist and quarterfinalist among other floaters…Tough starts for (5) Svitolina vs. the grasscourt title-winner Maria, (21) Sevastova vs. Giorgi, (32) Radwanska vs. Safarova 2nd rd., and (2) Wozniacki vs. Makarova 2nd rd…(25) Serena’s early path is former world No. 1 junior Arantxa Rus, a qualifier/wildcard, then (5) Svitolina, then (10) Keys.

Murray and Wawrinka square off first round, winner to meet (2) Edmund…Other openers of interest are (8) Fuchsovics vs. the grass-ready Brit (WC) Norrie, the rookie (4) Ceccinato vs. the veteran Seppi, (5) Mayer vs. Simon (winner to meet Muller), and (7) Johnson vs. Medvedev (winner to face M.Zverev)…

(2) Gavrilov starts against American Jennifer Brady and is then looking at the veteran Stosur in the second round, which would be a rematch of last year’s final…

Tough starts went to (1) Halep vs. the Azarenka-Osaka winner, (13) Keys vs. Pavlyuchenkova, (9) Stephens vs. the crafty Strycova, (3) Muguruza vs. the Gavrilova-Bellis winner, (16) Barty vs. Sharapova…

Two Top 10 players in the J&T Banka Prague Open field are led by former No. 1 Karolina Pliskova, who is coming off reaching the final at Stuttgart, and in Prague will open against her twin sister Kristyna.

Former champions in the field are Kasatkina (2017), Stephens (2016), Andrea Petkovic (2014), and Stosur (2010).

Potential tough starts for (1) Nadal vs. his free-swinging Spanish countryman F-Lo (winner to possibly meet (WC) Thanasi Kokkinakis), (4) Sock 2nd rd. vs. the Aussie Open semifinalist Chung, (6) Del Potro vs. the elder net-rushing Zverev, (3) Thiem 2nd rd. vs. the Nishikori-Shapovalov winner, and (8) Isner vs. his countryman Harrison…

(5) Venus vs. Bencic the must-watch 1st rd. match in Melbourne…Other tough starts for (31) Makarova vs. Begu, and the injury-hampered (13) Stephens vs. Zhang, who she has previously lost to…

“It feels pretty special to win my first tournament here,” Gavrilova told the crowd afterwards. “It means the world to me to hold this trophy.”

(2) Halep could be up against it with an early road of qualifier and two-time grasscourt doubles winner Marina Erakovic, then Brit Laura Robson, then Bouchard

Potential tough starts for (1) Kerber vs. homegirl (WC) Broady, (10) Ostapenko vs. Makarova, (3) Pliskova vs. the Riske/Cornet winner, (8) Radwanska vs. the Goerges/Bellis winner, (11) Muguruza vs. Bouchard, and (6) Wozniacki vs. the Japanese riser Osaka…

Samantha Stosur won her first title in two years on Saturday at the Internationaux de Strasbourg, coming from a set down to hold off countrywoman Daria Gavrilova, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 for her ninth career title.

Last year’s final was all Kiki Berten as the Dutchwoman qualified then won the singles, defeating Colombia’s Mariana Duque-Marino in the final, then won the doubles…