Tennis

Jessica Pegula, the reigning champion of the National Bank Open, commenced her pursuit of a historic Montréal-Toronto double on Wednesday night with a convincing 7-5, 6-4 victory over former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova.Pegula, currently ranked No. 6, is aiming to emulate Martina Hingis's feat of winning consecutive titles in Canada in 1999 and 2000. Her triumph in Montréal last year, where she upset Iga Swiatek, marked her second WTA 1000 title. However, her 2023 season has been marred by injuries and a coaching change, affecting her consistency.Despite her recent challenges, Pegula displayed her resilience against Pliskova, who reached the finals in 2021. The American overcame an early break deficit and regained her own break advantage to secure the first set.Pliskova, ranked No. 45, posed a formidable challenge in the second set, pushing Pegula to the limit as she served for the match. However, Pegula's determination prevailed as she saved two break chances in the final game to seal the victory in straight sets.Pegula's next opponent will be the winner of the second-round clash between Ashlyn Krueger and Leylah Fernandez, who defeated Nao Hibino in the opening match of Wednesday's night session.Pegula's victory sets the stage for a potential quarterfinal showdown with Swiatek, who received a first-round bye. The American will be eager to avenge her loss to the Polish star in the semifinals of the Australian Open earlier this year.

Fritz and Paul Triumph in National Bank Open OpenersMONTREAL, Canada - Olympic doubles bronze medalists Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul kicked off their National Bank Open campaigns with impressive singles victories on Wednesday.Fritz, seeded ninth, dispatched Mariano Navone of Argentina 6-4, 6-1 in a dominant display. The American controlled the match from the outset, breaking Navone's serve twice in the first set and cruising through the second."It was a solid match," Fritz said. "I feel like the level, probably from both of us, went up a bit in the second set. We started playing longer points."Fritz will face fellow American Sebastian Korda in the second round. Korda, fresh off his second ATP Tour title in Washington, advanced when Vasek Pospisil retired due to a back injury.Paul, seeded 10th, also secured a straight-sets victory, defeating Luciano Darderi of Italy 6-4, 7-6 (2). Paul broke Darderi's serve in the opening game and held on to his advantage throughout the match."I'm happy with the way I played," Paul said. "I served well and was able to control the points. I'm looking forward to the next round."Paul will face qualifier Brandon Nakashima in the second round. Nakashima, who upset Canadian wild-card Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 7-5, is coming off a strong performance in Washington, where he reached the semifinals.Other Americans who advanced on Wednesday included Ben Shelton and Nakashima. Shelton, seeded 11th, edged doubles partner Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan, while Nakashima beat Shapovalov.Flavio Cobolli of Italy, who lost to Korda in the DC Open final on Sunday, upset 14th-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada 6-3, 6-2.

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina's recent struggles have cast doubt on his status as the favorite against Roman Safiullin at the National Bank Open in Montreal. The Spaniard has endured a challenging few months, plagued by injuries and inconsistent form.Davidovich Fokina's promising start in Atlanta, where he defeated Arthur Cazaux and Reilly Opelka, has been overshadowed by subsequent losses. His most recent setback, a disappointing defeat to Flavio Cobolli in Washington D.C., raised concerns about his physical and mental state.Despite his struggles, Davidovich Fokina remains a formidable opponent when at his best. However, his shaky serve and tendency to commit unforced errors make him vulnerable against aggressive players like Safiullin.Safiullin, on the other hand, has shown impressive form in recent tournaments. His strong performance at the Olympics, where he defeated established clay-court players, suggests that he is well-suited to hard courts, his preferred surface.While Davidovich Fokina's recent record may be concerning, Safiullin's consistency and current form make him the more reliable choice. The Russian's aggressive style and confidence should give him an edge in this matchup.Given Davidovich Fokina's current struggles, the odds of +110 for Safiullin to win are highly enticing. The Russian's superior form and suitability to hard courts make him the more likely victor in this encounter.

The National Bank Open, an ATP Masters 1000 hard-court tournament, kicks off in Montreal on August 6th. With Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz absent, the field boasts a star-studded lineup including Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, and Daniil Medvedev.The tournament's fast court conditions favor power players and big servers. Past champions include Rafael Nadal (2018-2019), Daniil Medvedev (2021), and Pablo Carreno Busta (2022).Players to Watch:* Daniil Medvedev (+600): The former world No. 1 returns to hard courts after a disappointing Olympics. He faces a favorable draw until a potential fourth-round clash with Stefanos Tsitsipas.* Taylor Fritz (+2500): The American has a clear path to a deep run, with winnable matches against Sebastian Korda, Casper Ruud, and Alexander Zverev.* Jannik Sinner (+150): The Italian is the favorite despite recent health issues. His elite serving and returning abilities make him a formidable opponent on fast surfaces.Pick to Win:Jannik Sinner (+150) is the player to beat in Montreal. His absence of rivals Djokovic and Alcaraz, combined with his exceptional skills on fast courts, makes him the most likely candidate for victory.

The National Bank Open, a prestigious WTA 1000 tournament, returns to Toronto this week, featuring a star-studded lineup of players. While Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, and Jasmine Paolini will be absent, the tournament will showcase the talents of Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and many others vying for the coveted title.The tournament's fast court conditions favor players with powerful serves and baseline play. Aryna Sabalenka, known for her explosive power, is the tournament favorite at +300 odds. Coco Gauff, despite a disappointing Olympic outing, remains a contender at +340.However, there are several players to watch who could challenge the favorites. Leylah Fernandez, the Canadian crowd favorite, has a favorable draw and the potential to make a deep run. Emma Navarro, a rising American star, has a strong all-around game and could surprise at +1600 odds.Navarro's defensive prowess, combined with her baseline power and precision, makes her a potential threat to the top seeds. She has previously defeated Sabalenka and could be poised for a breakthrough performance in Toronto.Other players to keep an eye on include Naomi Osaka, Paula Badosa, and Ons Jabeur. Osaka, a former world number one, will be looking to regain her form after a challenging season. Badosa and Jabeur are both in-form players who could make a run to the latter stages of the tournament.The National Bank Open promises to be an exciting tournament with a wide-open field. While Sabalenka is the favorite, there are several players who could challenge her and make a run for the title.

Carlos Alcaraz Withdraws from Montreal Masters, Citing FatigueMONTREAL, Canada - Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion, has withdrawn from the National Bank Open in Montreal, a US Open tuneup tournament, due to fatigue. The announcement comes after Alcaraz reached the semifinals of the Paris Olympics on Thursday.Alcaraz's withdrawal is a significant blow to the tournament, which is an ATP Masters 1000 event and one of the most prestigious on the tennis calendar. The Spaniard has been in scintillating form this season, winning two Grand Slams and reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open.In a statement released by the tournament organizers, Alcaraz said, "I am very sorry to announce that I will not be able to participate in the National Bank Open this year. Due to the accumulation of matches and fatigue, I have decided to withdraw from the tournament."Alcaraz's withdrawal joins that of Novak Djokovic, who also pulled out of the Montreal event earlier this week. Djokovic, a 21-time Grand Slam champion, is currently recovering from an abdominal injury.The National Bank Open will still feature a strong field, including Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev, and Stefanos Tsitsipas. However, Alcaraz's absence will undoubtedly be felt, as he is one of the most exciting and talented players in the world.

The National Bank Open (NBO) has announced a significant upgrade to its tournaments, which will take place over 12 days starting in 2025. This move elevates the NBO to an elite group of six extended combined events on the WTA and ATP Tours, bringing it closer to the format of a Grand Slam.The combined event, which alternates hosting an ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 in Toronto and Montréal, will expand its respective fields from 56 to 96 players. This aligns with the format of other prestigious tournaments such as the BNP Paribas Open, Miami Open, Mutua Madrid Open, Internazionali BNL d'Italia, and the Cincinnati Open, which will also become a two-week tournament in 2025.The NBO's "redefinition" is part of a larger plan to introduce equal prize money at all 1000-level tournaments. This initiative was first announced in 2023 following the expansion of clay-court tournaments in Madrid and Rome.Valérie Tétreault, NBO Montréal tournament director, emphasized the importance of player voices in advocating for change. She believes that the new format will benefit players' physical and mental well-being."It's quite demanding on both the mind and body to be in a new city every week, to be playing back-to-back matches," Tétreault explained. "So, I think if you want to have a long career in tennis, you need to find the right balance to be able to have a life outside of the tennis courts. I think this new format will allow for that."The enhanced fan experience will include six night sessions and an extra round of action, culminating in a Thursday finals day that will crown both men's and women's champions.WTA player Leylah Annie Fernandez expressed her excitement about the changes. "It's always a highlight of the year to play at the National Bank Open in Montréal or Toronto, and I can't wait to see the positive impact this new format will have on the fans, the cities and Canadian tennis."The NBO's expansion is a testament to the growing popularity of tennis in Canada and its commitment to providing a world-class experience for players and fans alike.