No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek dropped just four games against Hanyu Guo in her first match since claiming the trophy at Wimbledon. The Pole looks to triumph in Canada for the first time and faces Eva Lys as her next opponent.
Other highlights of Friday’s WTA Montreal action feature Madison Keys trying to snap Caty McNally’s 12-match win streak and a former Grand Slam champion duel between Naomi Osaka and Jelena Ostapenko. Who do you think will come out on top?
WTA Montreal Day 6 Predictions
Anna Kalinskaya vs Elina Svitolina
Head-to-head: Svitolina 2-0
Elina Svitolina didn’t leave Anna Kalinskaya with much to say in their two matches so far, including in Dubai this year. But the Russian’s form is trending upwards right now, and after making the final in Washington, she’s also delivering this week with two three-set wins. That’s a question mark, though, regarding potential fatigue, and a strong counter-puncher like Svitolina can be a good answer to her aggressive flat-hitting.
Prediction: Svitolina in 2
Madison Keys vs Caty McNally
Head-to-head: First meeting
Caty McNally was the only player to take a set off Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon, and he’s picked up twelve wins plus two titles since. The American might be in the best form of her life as she’s heading into this contest against Madison Keys. Does this feel like the match where the win streak will end? Yeah, it’s going to be very tough to keep the run going against an opponent of this quality. Hopefully, McNally can give Keys a decent fight.
Prediction: Keys in 2
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Naomi Osaka vs Jelena Ostapenko
Head-to-head: Osaka 2-0
These two have been on the tour for a while, and, surprisingly, we’re only seeing them clash for the third time, with one meeting coming back in 2016 and another last year. Naomi Osaka, who saved match points in the opening round, has switched coaches again, desperately looking for something that will help her return to her Slam-winning days. It’s too early for Tomasz Wiktorowski to have that sort of impact, but players who can hit even faster (but not more powerful) than Jelena Ostapenko bother her sometimes.
Prediction: Osaka in 3
Iga Swiatek vs Eva Lys
Head-to-head: Swiatek 2-0
Swiatek playing this event just two weeks after Wimbledon might be a bit surprising, but you can see she’s just very at ease about life right now and is fully enjoying herself on the court. That sort of attitude might make her even tougher to beat if she can forget about the pressure and play freely. She’s played Eva Lys twice before, and it was never all that close with the German struggling to compete against the baseline spin and pace that the 6-time Grand Slam champion brings to every rally.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
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