See the draw here.
Each week is a clean slate on tour, and what a difference one of them can make. Just ask Serena Williams. After her title in Stanford, her name looks a lot more solid and imposing at the top of the draw in Montreal. She wasn’t always at her best in California, but she was close enough to make us believe that her best isn’t far away. Which is a good thing, because she may need it right away in Canada, where she could play Sam Stosur in her opener.
Stosur is wildly up and down, of course, and she just lost to a 16-year-old, but she also owns three wins over Serena. The last time they played, two years ago in Charleston, it was all Serena—she beat Sam 1 and 1. Serena won this tournament last year, but she wasn’t coming off a week of play the way she is this time. We’ll see whether her time in Stanford builds her confidence, or tires her out.
Also here:
Eugenie Bouchard: The Montreal native faces two questions: (1) How much rust has she accumulated after nearly a month away? (2) Will the hometown crowd buoy her, or make her nervous? She could face a tough opener against Ajla Tomljanovic. As far as her possible quarterfinal opponent, Serena, goes, Bouchard lost their only meeting, in Cincy last year, in three sets.
First-round matches to watch:
Caroline Wozniacki vs. Daniela Hantuchova: How high can a more-focused Caro climb?
Lucie Safarova vs. Sorana Cirstea: The Wimbledon semifinalist faces last year’s Rogers Cup runner-up.
Potential second-round matches to watch:
Serena Williams vs. Sam Stosur
Eugenie Bouchard vs. Ajla Tomljanovic
Maria Sharapova also makes her first appearance since Wimbledon. Traditionally, Canada hasn’t been kind to her—she’s never won this event—and that tradition appears to have continued in 2014. Sharapova could open against Garbine Muguruza, the strong young Spanish player who nearly beat her at the French Open. After that, Maria might find herself in a rematch with Angelique Kerber, who did beat her at Wimbledon.
Also here:
Venus Williams: Somehow, after 17 years on tour, Venus is making her first appearance in Montreal. She starts against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Kurumi Nara, finalist in D.C.
First-round match to watch:
Carla Suarez Navarro vs. Bojana Jovanovski: For those who like their backhands with some background noise.