After Novak Djokovic’s dramatic exit from the Olympic Games, world No.1 Serena Williams will be hoping to avoid the same fate in her second round clash against France’s Alize Cornet.
The match is a chance for the 34-year-old to redeem herself in the Games after crashing out of the doubles competition on Sunday. Playing Cornet will trigger mixed emotions for Williams, who currently has a head-to-head record of 3-3 against the Frenchwoman. The two haven’t played each other since 2014, where Cornet stunned the American three times within the same season (including the Wimbledon championships). Nevertheless, Williams is the stand out favourite in the match as she bids to win her fifth Olympic medal.
Williams’ match will not take place before 18:45 local time. Prior to the encounter, three singles matches will take place. Opening up proceedings on the centre court will be a battle of the former world No.1’s. Caroline Wozniacki will take on Petra Kvitova in what will be their 12th meeting. Two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitova narrowly leads the head-to-head 6-5 against Wozniacki, who has been blighted by injury this season.
Second seed Angelique faces a daunting meeting with Eugenie Bouchard on Centre Court. The German has only beaten Bouchard once and has lost their three most recent encounters, including one this season at the Rome Open.
Fresh off his impressive win over Novak Djokovic, Juan Martin Del Potro will continue his campaign against Portugal’s Joao Sousa. The former US Open champion is bidding to win his second Olympic medal after claiming a bronze at the London 2012 Games.
Completing proceeding on the premier court will be Kei Nishikori against John Millman. Milman made Olympic history in his first round match after destroying Ricardas Berankis 6-0, 6-0. The chances of the Australian reproducing that achievement in the second round are highly unlikely against fourth-seeded Nishikori, who is bidding to become the first Japanese player to medal at the Games since 1920.
It isn’t just the centre court that will feature some mouthwatering clashes. Elsewhere at the Olympic Tennis Centre seventh seed Madison Keys will play Kristina Mladanovic, Jo Wilfried-Tsonga faces the big serving Gilles Muller and Garbine Muguruza will play Japan’s Nao Hibino.
Monday’s Full order of play
Centre Court
Starting at: 10:45 am
(11) Petra Kvitova (CZE) v Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)
Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) v (2) Angelique Kerber (GER)
Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) v Joao Sousa (POR)
(1) Serena Williams (USA) v Alize Cornet (FRA)
John Millman (USA) v (4) Kei Nishikori (JPN)
Court 1
Starting at: 11:00 am
(7) Madison Keys (USA) v Kristina Mladenovic (FRA)
(13) Samantha Stosur (AUS) v Misaki Doi (JPN)
(6) Gael Monfils (FRA) v Rogerio Dutra Silva (BRA)
Fabio Fognini (ITA)/Andreas Seppi (ITA) v Thomaz Bellucci (BRA)/Andre Sa (BRA)
(3) Marcelo Melo (BRA)/Bruno Soares (BRA) v Novak Djokovic (SRB)/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB)
Court 2
Starting at: 11:00 am
Ana Konjuh (CRO) v (9)Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP)
Caroline Garcia (FRA) v (10) Johanna Konta (GBR)
Gilles Muller (LUX) v (5) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA)
(3) Garbine Muguruza (ESP) v Nao Hibino (JPN)
(6) Marc Lopez (ESP)/Rafael Nadal (ESP) v Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG)/Maximo Gonzalez (ARG)
Court 3
Starting at: 11:00 am
Monica Puig (PUR) v (14) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS)
(10) Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) v Paolo Lorenzi (ITA)
(8) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) v Monica Niculescu (ROU)
Lukasz Kubot (POL)/Marcin Matkowski (POL) v (8) Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP)/David Ferrer (ESP)
Oliver Marach (AUT)/Alexander Peya (AUT) v Brian Baker (USA)/Rajeev Ram (USA)
Court 4
Starting at: 11:00 am
Kyle Edmund (GBR) v Taro Daniel (JPN)
(13) Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) v Andrej Martin (SVK)
Heather Watson (GBR) v (15) Elina Svitolina (UKR)
Juan-Sebastian Cabal (COL)/Robert Farah (COL) v Steve Johnson (USA)/Jack Sock (USA)
(7) Daniel Nestor (CAN)/Vasek Pospisil (CAN) v Elias Gastao (POR)/Joao Sousa (POR)
Court 7
Starting at: 11:00 am
(5) Timea Bacsinszky (SUI)/Martina Hingis (SUI) v Bethanie Mattek Sands (USA)/Coco Vandeweghe (USA)
Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) v Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (SVK)
Radu Albot (MDA) v (9) Marin Cilic (CRO)
(16) Barbora Strycova (CZE) v Sara Errani (ITA)
Daria Kasatkina (RUS)/Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) v Misaki Doi (JPN)/Eri Hozumi (JPN)
Court 8
Starting at: 11:00 am
Gonzalez/Reyes-Varela (MEX) v (5) Mergea/Tecau (ROU)
Daria Kasatkina (RUS) v Saisai Zheng (CHN)
Lucie Safarova (CZE) v Kirsten Flipkens (BEL)
Shuai Zheng (CHN) v Laura Siegemund (GER)
Johanna Konta (GBR)/Heather Watson (GBR) v Ching-Hao Chang (TPE)/Yung-Jan Chan (TPE)
