Halep & Kuznetsova to clash in Rogers Cup Round of 16

Speed Post News Network

Patna : Reigning Wimbledon Champion and 4th seed Simona Halep, 27, Romania, and World No 198 Svetlana Kuznetsova, 34, Russia, winner of two Grand Slam singles titles, will clash in the Round of 16 of Rogers Cup at Toronto, Canada, at 11 pm on August 8, 2019.

World No 4 Halep beat World No 76 Jennifer Brady, 24, USA, in a three-set encounter 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 in the second round on August 7, 2019, night. Brady fired 5 Aces in the match to just 1 by Halep. Both the players won 7 break points each in the match. Halep though won 6 games in a row to 5 by Brady.

Kuznetsova, who had won US Open title in 2004 and French Open title in 2009, upset World No 24 Donna Vekic, 23, Croatia, in straight sets in second round.  Kuznetsova beat Vekic 7-6, 6-3 to advance to the Round of 16. Winner of 16 WTA titles, Kuznetsova won 4 break points in the match to 3 by Vekic. The Croatia committed 9 double faults to 3 by the Russian.

World No 10 Serena Williams, 37, USA, beat World No 20 Elise Mertens, 23, Belgium, 6-3, 6-3 to advanced to the Round of 16. Serena, winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles, won 5 break points to 2 by Mertens.

World No 2 Naomi Osaka, 21, Japan, entered third round after her second round opponent and World No 74 Tatjana Maria, 31, Germany, retired in the second set due to injury after losing the first set.