Arseneault can't overcome Osaka in first round
Ariana Arseneault was unable to overcome a tough first-round opponent at the National Bank Open, falling to Naomi Osaka 6-4, 6-2 on Monday.
The 23-year-old Canadian was making her WTA 1000 main draw debut after qualifying over the weekend. She drew former US Open and Australian Open winner Naomi Osaka, who showed flashes of her former top form this afternoon.
Ranked No. 49, Osaka will advance to take on No. 16 Liudmila Samsonova in the second round.
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Arseneault put up a hard-fought first set against the former world No. 1. Things were evenly matched through the first four games before Osaka broke the Canadian to take a 3-2 lead. Not to be outdone, the Richmond Hill, Ont., native broke her right back to even the set at 4-4. The four-time Grand Slam champion found another gear in response, breaking Arseneault right back. Osaka would hold her serve to take the first set 6-4.
Arseneault got the crowd at IGA Stadium on its feet with a spectacular shot to open the second set. Osaka attempted a drop at the net, but the Canadian charged and hit a perfectly-placed cross-court winner. Arseneault would go on to hold and open the set up 1-0.
Osaka would once again flip the switch against her more inexperienced opponent to take full control for the remainder of the afternoon. The 27-year-old would break Arseneault twice to go up a double break and put the second round in her sights. Osaka did not let up and finished the match quickly, holding at love to go up 5-1. Arseneault would extend the set with a hold, but could not push Osaka any further after failing to convert a break point down 5-2 in the second set.
It’s Osaka’s first win at the National Bank Open in nearly seven years.
Arseneault, the world No. 122, qualified for the main draw in Montreal with a 6-3, 7-6 (5) win over Destanee Aiava.
-Jonathan Chan
Cross eliminated by Rakhimova in opening match
After winning the Road to the NBO, Kayla Cross’ time in Montreal ended in the first round, losing to world No. 62 Kamilla Rakhimova 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 on Monday.
The Canadian had some ups and downs on serve, firing six aces compared to her opponent’s zero. But Cross was under extensive pressure on her delivery as she faced 13 break points, saving nine, and committed eight double faults to Rakhimova’s one.
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Cross was strong in the opening set, securing an early break in the third game as she eventually led 3-1 after a hold. The London-native was broken at 4-3 but broke back to give herself the opportunity to serve out the set, which she did.
The second set was where Rakhimova began to pile on the pressure on Cross’ serve. At 1-2, love-40, the Canadian won five-straight points to save all three break points and level the set.
However, Rakhimova converted on a break point at 3-2 and the 23-year-old held the rest of the way to send the match to a decisive set.
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To begin the third, Cross went down a break after the first game and, attempting to break back, the 20-year-old went up love-40 but was unable to convert, falling behind0-2.
At 4-2, 40-15 on Cross’ serve, Rakhimova went on a dominant run, winning nine of the next 11 points to break and wrap up the match on serve. The world No. 62 won 71 per cent of her first-serve points in the win.
[WC] Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) vs. Emiliana Arango (COL)
Carson Branstine (CAN) vs. Maria Sakkari (GRE)
Feature Photo: Tennis Canada
