CP215294096(1)
At the end of a week that included more than a few upsets on the women’s side of the 2024 National Bank Open, it’s only fitting that Friday should bring another, with 14-seed Diana Shnaider knocking off No. 1 Coco Gauff in straight sets in the Round of 16.
With Gauff out, Jessica Pegula’s path to defend her title appears a little bit clearer. Or, will we see another upset on Saturday?
Meanwhile, in Montreal, all eyes are on the skies after major rain delays halted competition Thursday night and wiped out Friday’s singles matches entirely.
Here’s what’s in store for Saturday.
How will Montreal’s massive rain delays shape Saturday’s competition?
Friday was already shaping up to be a busy day on the Montreal courts, made even busier by the postponement of Thursday night’s matches due to rain. But the day brought more rain … and barely any tennis at all.
That means Saturday’s schedule is filled to the brim, with both Round of 16 action and quarterfinal play set to take place — and a few second-round bouts still unplayed, too, after Thursday night’s matchups were called off.
Saturday’s schedule opens with Hubert Hurkacz and Thanasi Kokkinakis on Centre Court at 11 a.m. local time, with the condition of Hurkacz’s knee the biggest storyline — he just underwent meniscus surgery last month, and is already back on the court. The two other leftover Round 2 contests, Flavio Cobolli versus Arthur Rinderknech and the all-American matchup between Sebastian Korda and Taylor Fritz, will take place at the same time on other courts.
Montreal will need a little cooperation from Mother Nature to get through the day’s full slate, including some third-round and quarterfinal bouts as the schedule allows.
Saturday’s headliners (previously Friday’s headliners) on the men’s side include 2023 NBO champ and No. 1 player in the world Jannik Sinner facing 15-seed Alejandro Tabilo of Chile, who’s ranked 21st in the world, 13-seed Holger Rune against second seed Alexander Zverev, and sixth seed Casper Ruud against whichever American emerges from the two-time rain-delayed clash between Fritz and Korda.
Can Townsend keep her momentum alive?
American Taylor Townsend started the week designated a “lucky loser,” and so far her opponents have been anything but lucky. Townsend advanced to the second round after 16th seed Dayana Yastremska retired in the second set, and made quick work of Canada’s Marina Stakusic in the Round of 32 as the Canuck clearly battled through a leg issue. But she’s made the most of this run in Toronto, turning a little bit of luck into a big upset victory in Round 3 when she defeated fourth seed Jelena Ostapenko Friday in straight sets to advance to Saturday’s quarterfinal, allowing Ostapenko just three sets through the entire effort.
The 28-year-old, who is ranked 71st on the WTA circuit, will need to keep her momentum going Saturday when she faces eighth seed Emma Navarro with a spot in Sunday’s semifinals on the line. This is Townsend’s first time reaching the quarterfinals of a WTA Tour tournament.
American singles players finding success north of the border
Townsend is one of five Americans in the quarterfinals, including her own opponent, Navarro. Other Americans still competing in Toronto are Amanda Anisimova, who will take on second seed Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday’s second afternoon session, and defending champion Pegula, who will take on fellow countrywoman Peyton Stearns Saturday evening.
With the upset of another American in Gauff — she was ousted by 14-seed Shnaider — the top-seeded player is no longer on the bracket, making Pegula’s path to defending her throne a little bit clearer. A win over Stearns would see her take on either Liudmila Samsonova (sixth seed) of Shnaider.
Canadian women dominate doubles field
While Canada had little success in the singles competition on both the men’s and women’s side this year, the home team’s doubles squads are dominating the women’s bracket in Toronto.
Of the eight players appearing in two quarterfinal doubles matchups on Saturday, five are Canadian — including two all-Canadian duos in sisters Leylah and Bianca Fernandez and Ariana Arseneault and Mia Kupres. But the favourite in the field is Gabriela Dabrowski, who alongside New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe (who grew up in Caledon, Ont.) makes up one half of the tournament’s top pair.
It’s no surprise to see the tandem of Dabrowski and Routliffe cruising through the competition in Toronto — the two won the U.S. Open together last year and so far this season have reached the Miami Open final and won the Rothesay Open in June.
Dabrowski’s hot streak also includes having just claimed Olympic bronze in mixed doubles in Paris last week alongside Félix Auger-Aliassime.
She and Routliffe now take on wild cards Arseneault and Kupres while the Fernandez sisters will vie for a spot in the semis against Kristina Mladenovic and Shuai Zhang.
