Overall 49 Major singles titles are represented by the players remaining in the men’s and women’s singles draws, with 41 of them belonging to Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal. They’ll both be considerable favorites in their matches on Thursday. The day’s most intriguing matchups involve two Canadian teenagers who are in the midst of breakout seasons, and pursuing further glory at their country’s biggest tournament.
Karen Khachanov (6) vs. Felix Auger Aliassime
This will be the first career meeting between the 23-year-old Russian and the 19-year-old Canadian, who is celebrating his birthday today. This is the teenager’s first time playing in the city he was born. Felix already has solid wins this week over two veteran countrymen, Vasek Pospisil and Milos Raonic, though Raonic was forced to retire after they split the first two sets. Khachanov yesterday notched his first win over Stan Wawrinka with some high quality play. He’ll be a step up in competition for the young Canadian. I’m surprised this was not scheduled for the evening session, which would allow Felix the opportunity of playing in front of an enthusiastic crowd in prime time. Still, the day session folks will be exuberantly behind the birthday boy. And Felix may need all their energy to overcome a confident Khachanov, who has rediscovered his form after a slow start to 2019. Karen will be the favorite in what could be the beginning of a rivalry to play out for many years to come.
Kiki Bertens (5) vs. Bianca Andreescu
19-year-old Andreescu shocked the tennis world by winning Indian Wells back in March. But this is only her third tournament since, as she’s given her body time to recoup from injuries. Bianca was already pushed to three sets in both of the last two days, and yesterday had to battle back from 5-3 down in the third before winning the last four games to take out Daria Kasatkina. She did so despite looking physically spent during that third set, so how much will she have left today? Meanwhile Bertens has only spent one hour on court this week, dropping just three games to an American qualifier yesterday. The fifth seed should prevail here, but as we’ve learned this season, count out the ultra-competitive Andreescu at your own peril. That’s especially true on North American hard courts, where she owns 20 match wins at all levels this year.
Other notable matches on Thursday:
Serena Williams (8) vs. Ekaterina Alexandrova (Q). Serena looked pretty impressive yesterday against Elise Mertens. This will be her first meeting against the 24-year-old qualifier from Russia.
Rafael Nadal (1) vs. Guido Pella. Rafa is 3-0 against Guido having never dropped a set.
Naomi Osaka (2) vs. Iga Swiatek (Q). The 18-year-old from Poland defeated Caroline Wozniacki just last night.
Dominic Thiem (2) vs. Marin Cilic (14). Thiem earned his first-ever Rogers Cup win yesterday against Denis Shapovalov. Cilic has really been struggling this season, with almost as many losses as wins.
In a battle of former French Open champions, Simona Halep (4) vs. Svetlana Kuznetsova (WC). Halep just barely survived yesterday over Jennifer Brady in a third set tiebreak, and was clearly less than 100%.
2017 champion Sascha Zverev (3) vs. Nikolaz Basilashvili (13). Basilashvili defeated Zverev two weeks ago on clay in a third set tiebreak.
Karolina Pliskova (3) vs. Anett Kontaveit (16). Pliskova took both previous meetings, including a hard court match earlier this year in Indian Wells.
Gael Monfils (16) vs. Hubert Hurkacz (Alt). Hurkacz upset last year’s finalist, Stefanos Tsitsipas, in the last round.
In a match between two former Rogers Cup champions, both of whom won when the WTA tournament was staged in Toronto, Elina Svitolina (6) vs. Belinda Bencic (11).
