OVER AND OUT AT ROGERS CUP

Last Canadian woman eliminated

The last Canadian in the Rogers Cup women’s tennis championship disappeared Wednesday when third-seeded Sloane Stephens of the U.S. defeated Montrealer Francoise Abanda 6-0, 6-2 in second-round action.

Stephens, who was making her hard-court debut after a shocking loss to Donna Vekic at Wimbledon last month, wasn’t at her best, but needed only 80 minutes to win, and that included an eight-minute washroom break for Abanda after she lost the first set, and a brief delay dealing with a light drizzle.

Stephens was kind in her appraisal of Abanda.

“I think she’s a great player,” said Stephens. “Honestly, she’s young. Obviously she needs more experience, playing more at this level. But I think that just comes with time. It happens to all of us, so it’s not anything to be too worried about. She’ll continue to get better as long as she listens to her coaches, does everything that everyone is supposed to do: work hard, have fun. I think she’s on the right track.”

Earlier, Alize Cornet of France defeated Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber, the fourth seed from Germany, 6-4, 6-1, and the result shouldn’t have been a surprise if you looked at the players’ schedules. Kerber was playing her first match since winning at Wimbledon while Cornet has been busy. She won the Swiss Open on clay and also played in Moscow. And while Kerber had a bye in the first round, Cornet had a match to become accustomed to the courts.

Maria Sharapova, the former world No. 1, needed only 76 minutes to beat the 12th seed, fellow Russian Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 6-2. Sharapova has lost only five games in two matches.

Next up for Sharapova Thursday is sixth-seeded Caroline Garcia.