Raducanu and Osaka dominant out of the gate in Montreal

The four-time Grand Slam champion and former World No. 1 made quick work of Canadian qualifier Ariana Arseneault 6-4, 6-2 in just over an hour to move on at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers. 

Osaka sets up a round two meeting against Liudmila Samsonova, the finalist two years ago in Montreal.  

Raducanu rolls to first win in Canada

Fresh off her run to the Washington semi-finals last week, Brit Emma Raducanu made good in her Montreal debut Monday on Centre Court, defeating Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania 6-2, 6-4 to reach round two.

This is the first-career win in Canada for the Toronto-born Raducanu who is making her second tournament appearance and first since 2022. 

The 2021 U.S. Open champion will next face American Peyton Stearns, the no.  32 seed in the draw. Stearns was beaten in Washington by Venus Williams. 

Kamilla Rakhimova, Laura Siegemund, Yulia Starodubtseva, Hanyu Guo, Eva Lys, Lulu Sun, and Anna Blinkova also posted victories on Monday afternoon. 

Photo: Tim Austen