Tennis doesn't always give us something new each week. In Montreal, Serena Williams opened with an easy victory over Sam Stosur; this week she'll try to do it again, provided Stosur can win her first round, against Varvara Lepchenko. You would think that, if she does get a rematch, Sam would be determined to put up more resistance this time.
With Serena in this quarter is the woman who beat her in the final here in 2013, Victoria Azarenka. If her leg allows, Vika will start against Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, get either Andrea Petkovic or Sloane Stephens after that, and might face Jelena Jankovic, a semifinalist last year in Cincy, or Garbine Muguruza in the third round—a pretty tough little gauntlet to run, just to have a chance at Serena in the quarters.
Already through: U.S. teen Taylor Townsend beat Klara Koukalova in three sets on Monday; she could play Serena in the third round.
First-round match to watch: Andrea Petkovic vs. Sloane Stephens
Aga Radwanska’s first match after her first title of 2014 will come against either Kurumi Nara or Romina Oprandi—Nara was a finalist in D.C. two weeks ago. Radwanska didn’t have any especially long matches in Montreal, but she does tend to wear down; back-to-back titles would be a big ask.
The woman most likely to knock her out in this quarter is Angelique Kerber; Radwanska is 5-4 against the German, but Angie won their last meeting. Kerber, despite losing to Venus Williams last week, has been on a good run overall. Still, she could face a stiff challenges in her opener, from Ekaterina Makarova, and in the third round, from Caroline Wozniacki.