By Matthew Marolf
Due to rain in Montreal last night, the last quarterfinal between Roberto Bautista Agut and Gael Monfils will be played at 1pm local time today, with the winner’s reward being a match with Rafael Nadal just a few hours later. In between those two matches, we’ll see the first-ever all-Russian semi-final at a Masters 1,000 event.
In Toronto, Serena Williams will headline the evening session against a 21-year-old qualifier, who benefited from the retirement of Simona Halep last night. The afternoon session will see a 19-year-old Canadian favourite face a 20-year-old American, both of whom have quickly become two of the WTA’s fiercest competitors.
Bianca Andreescu vs. Sofia Kenin
Just as she did at Indian Wells back in March, Andreescu just won’t die at this tournament. She’s now won four consecutive three-setters in the last four days, including wins over both the third and fifth seeds. Yesterday she appeared to be completely down and out against Karolina Pliskova. After losing the second set 6-2, she left the court to have her upper leg taped up. Bianca was clearly in pain, and her movement hampered, yet managed to hold her serve and capitalize on a terrible Pliskova service game at 4-4 to claim victory.
Today she faces the last player to defeat her in a completed match on a hard court. In Acapulco earlier this year, Kenin overcame a third set deficit to prevail 7-5. Andreescu would avenge that loss just a few weeks later in Miami. They were scheduled to play again at Roland Garros, but Bianca withdrew due to injury. Kenin would go on to upset Serena Williams at that tournament, one of many impressive wins she’s accumulated this year. Sofia herself defeated both the top seed and sixth seed this week.
The biggest factors today will be Andreescu’s leg injury, as well as the amount of physical and emotional energy she’s already spent this week. Kenin has spent considerably less time on court, playing only one three-setter. The American should be favoured to reach the biggest final of her career.
Karen Khachanov (6) vs. Daniil Medvedev (8)
This is a battle between two 23-year-olds to be the Russian No.1. Khachanov currently holds that title, but Medvedev would surpass him in next week’s rankings with a win today. Khachanov is playing for his second Masters 1,000 final, while it would be the first for Medvedev. Neither man was tested in yesterday’s quarterfinals, so they should be fully fresh today. They’ve split their two previous meetings: Medvedev prevailed at the 2017 Next Gen Finals, but Khachanov won in three in their home country of Russia last October. Khachanov has achieved more success on big stages, with his Masters 1,000 title last year at the Paris Indoors, and his Major quarterfinal at this year’s French Open.
Medvedev is yet to get beyond the fourth round of a Major, but he’s easily been the most consistent performer outside the Slams. Daniil owns an astounding 61 match wins over the past 52 weeks, with three titles and three additional finals. One of those finals was just last week in Washington, where Nick Kyrgios bested him in two tiebreak sets. And Medvedev has followed that up by destroying his opposition this week, dropping only 13 games in six sets played.
There isn’t too much to separate these two, considering their similar playing styles, making this a hard one to call. But I’m giving the slight edge to Khachanov, who has more big match experience, and flourishes while playing in French-speaking cities. In a match of this importance between two countrymen of the same generation, the advantage goes to the player with more belief.
Other notable matches on Saturday:
In the only quarterfinal still to be played, Roberto Bautista Agut (10) vs. Gael Monfils (16), with the winner to face Rafael Nadal in the evening.
Serena Williams (8) vs. Marie Bouzkova (Q). Serena looked fierce in gaining her first victory over Naomi Osaka last night.
