Kvitova beats Linette, Stosur tops Watson at rain-soaked Rogers Cup

Earlier in the day, Australia’s Samantha Stosur won a hard-fought opening-round match against Heather Watson.

Stosur avoided the upset, beating the 67th-ranked Watson in straight sets 7-5, 6-3.

The tournament’s 13th seed struggled in the first set but found her rhythm in the second, breaking Watson’s serve on three occasions.

“To get through in straight sets, I’m pretty happy,” said Stosur, who reached the Rogers Cup final in 2011. “Overall I thought I served pretty well. There weren’t a lot of points off my serve where she could dictate off the first shot.

“If I got a good strike, I was in good shape to win those points.”

Numerous rain delays lasting a combined four hours extended the afternoon session and forced organizers to rejig the schedule.

Canadian Francoise Abanda saw her first-round match postponed because of the weather. Abanda will face qualifier Saisai Zheng of China on Tuesday.

“We knew from the start it would be a difficult day,” said tournament director Eugene Lapierre. “We were able to play all the matches minus one, so we’re satisfied with the day.

“I believe they (Abanda and Zheng) wanted to play tonight. But I spoke with their coaches, and they say it was better instead of waiting tonight, to have a good night’s sleep and play tomorrow morning.”

The only Canadian in action on Monday was Gabriela Dabrowski. The 24-year-old, along with teammate Alla Kudryavtseva, lost in doubles 6-3, 6-2 against Romanians Simona Halep and Monica Niculescu.

Qualifier Camila Giorgi of Italy upset American Sloane Stephens 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4), with both sets going to a tiebreak. Giorgi will face countrymate Roberta Vinci in the second round.

Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina made quick work of qualifier Jennifer Brady, winning 6-2, 6-4.

In the afternoon session, Barbora Strycova overcame numerous rain delays to beat Caroline Garcia of France 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Strycova, ranked 22nd in the world, came from behind to defeat 22-year-old wild-card Garcia in a session plagued by five rain delays.

On two occasions, Strycova and Garcia returned to the court only to be ushered away just moments later when the rain restarted.

“It’s really difficult,” said Strycova of the constant interruption in play. “These delays are tough because you always have to be ready. After the fourth delay, I went on the court and played a set and a half and I was tired.”

After losing the first set, Strycova battled back to win the next two. The Czech native will face sixth seed Venus Williams in the second round.

Following the last of the rain delays, Strycova held serve then broke her opponent to take a 5-3 lead in the third set.

On match point, Garcia, ranked 31st in the world, fired her forehand into the net.

“It was very close,” said Garcia. “I started that match very well. She had trouble adapting. But then there were many tight games. It was difficult for me to make a difference. I made mistakes.”

Also in the afternoon session, American Madison Brengle defeated Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 while Daria Gavrilova topped Annika Beck 6-4, 6-3.

The odds are stacked against the Austrian Gavrilova in the second round. Her next opponent is fifth-seed Simona Halep.

Canadians Eugenie Bouchard and Aleksandra Wozniak were not in action on Monday.

The 42nd-ranked Bouchard will meet Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic in the first round on Tuesday, while Wozniak takes on Italy’s Sara Errani.

Kelsey Patterson, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Kvitova beats Linette, Stosur tops Watson at rain-soaked Rogers Cup

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