Day 2 of the National Bank Open saw a host of American players in action, including Amanda Anisimova, Sloane Stephens and Claire Liu.
[10] Coco Gauff d. Madison Brengle 6-1, 6-3
An inter-generational clash saw Gauff, 18, post her second win in as many meetings over Brengle, 32. The pair had previously met in the second round of Rome in May, with Gauff triumphing 6-2, 6-4. The result sets up an intriguing first-time encounter between Gauff and Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.
This time round, the Roland Garros runner-up dropped one fewer game in each set to win in 62 minutes. Gauff delivered a near-flawless performance off the ground and at net, finding 28 winners to only seven unforced errors. The clash between two of the speediest players on tour saw the pair run each other to every corner of the court, and despite the scoreline Brengle acquitted herself well with several superb gets.
Gauff has now won six of her last seven matches against fellow Americans, and leads her compatriots 15-6 at tour level.
[3] Maria Sakkari d. Sloane Stephens 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
Sakkari of Greece won Tuesday's nightcap over American Stephens, and she became the first player to move into the Round of 16 this week in Toronto.
Highlights: Sakkari d. Stephens
In the first meeting between the two players, each of whom have career-high rankings of World No.3, Sakkari claimed victory in 2 hours and 9 minutes.
Sakkari finished the match with 36 winners to just 27 unforced errors, as she picked up her first win since the second round of Wimbledon. Meanwhile, Stephens' 17 winners were doubled by 34 unforced errors.
Sara Sorribes Tormo d. [Q] Claire Liu 7-6(4), 2-6, 7-6(5)
Liu led Sorribes Tormo 4-1 in the deciding set but was unable to close out the indefatigable Spaniard, who surged back to win in 3 hours and 33 minutes -- the third-longest WTA main-draw match of 2022 so far.
Highlights: Sorribes Tormo d. Liu
The contest was an absorbing stylistic contrast that saw Liu swarm the net at every opportunity, while Sorribes Tormo responded with her customary skill on passing shots and lobs. Liu's strategy paid dividends as she dominated the second set, but a series of unforced errors crept into her game as she neared the finishing line.
In the end, it was Sorribes Tormo who took control, sealing her second match point with a successful serve-and-volley foray.
Amanda Anisimova d. [WC] Carol Zhao 6-1, 6-3
World No.22 Anisimova needed only 56 minutes to storm past Canadian wildcard Zhao, ranked No.188. Anisimova continues a stellar season where she has compiled a 32-12 win-loss record, including a title at Melbourne Summer Set 2 and a run to the Wimbledon quarterfinals.
Anisimova will take on No.14 seed Karolina Pliskova in the second round. Last week in San Jose, Anisimova earned a milestone victory when she beat Pliskova for the first time in their five meetings.
