Wimbledon rematch looms in Montreal
A rematch of the Wimbledon final is already on the horizon at this year’s Rogers Cup in Montreal.
American Serena Williams could face Germany’s Angelique Kerber as early as the second round following completion of the women’s draw Friday.
New mom Williams, who got a wild card for the Rogers Cup, would need to beat 34th-ranked Alize Cornet of France in the first round to make that matchup possible. The 30-year-old Kerber, who has a first-round bye, beat 23-time major champion Williams in the Wimbledon final last month.
“Serena playing Alize Cornet in the first round, I know Serena will consider that a difficult match,” said Rogers Cup director Eugene Lapierre. “Cornet loves challenges like that. But if Serena wins, there’s your Wimbledon final all over again.
“This already feels like the second round of a Grand Slam.”
Friday’s draw was particularly good for the Canadians in the tournament, including Montreal’s Eugenie Bouchard.
The Westmount, Que., native avoided a top-10 player for at least the first two rounds.
She faces 15th-ranked Elise Mertens of Belgium in the first round, which will likely take place Monday at IGA Stadium. Bouchard would face either Shuai Zhang of China (No. 32) or a qualifier in the second round.
Bouchard, who’s making her 11th appearance at the Rogers Cup, is one of three Canadians in the main draw. There are also five Canadians in the qualifying rounds, which begin Saturday. Like Bouchard, Carol Zhao and Francoise Abanda were granted a wild card into the main draw.
Zhao of Richmond Hill, Ont., will face Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands in the first round, while Montrealer Abanda plays against a qualifier. Abanda, who was initially given a wild card to the qualifying session, was bumped up to the main draw Friday after Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ont., withdrew with a back injury.