The return begins in Montreal 📍 Welcome back former champion, Caroline Wozniacki 👋 😃 // Le retour commence à Montréal 📍 Bienvenue à l'ancienne championne, Caroline Wozniacki 👋😃 #OBN23
WTA Preview 2023 Canadian Open Montreal: Swiatek, Sabalenka and Rybakina headline as Wozniacki makes tour return
WTAMonday, 07 August 2023 at 09:55
The WTA side of the draw as ever heads to Montreal for the Canadian Open, also known as Omnium Banque Nationale between August 7-13 which sees the start of the US Hard Court swing going into the US Open.
As ever, TennisUpToDate will preview the action with the latest WTA 1000 set to take place and the first gauge ahead of Flushing Meadows.
Swiatek, Sabalenka, Rybakina among top seeds
While in the ATP draw, there are some omissions, it is basically full strength on the WTA side. Iga Swiatek, current World No.1 and one of only a few who have played since Wimbledon leads the way. She could face Karolina Pliskova early on in Montreal.
Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina both return for the first time since Wimbledon. Both using the European summer to prepare, the former putting herself through extreme heat. While Rybakina holidayed in Italy and then headed to Slovakia for a training block.
Swiatek in particular won the Warsaw Open and ahead of her US Open title defence could look for a statement while others are still getting back up to speed. Ons Jabeur is the main miss due to injury, with Simona Halep like in the ATP with Carreno Busta not defending her title.
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Return of Wozniacki in Montreal
Another of the leading storylines coming into the US Open hard court swing and in particular Montreal where she makes her return is Caroline Wozniacki. Deciding her farewell wasn't enough and not content with life as a pundit, she has now decided to return after three years away from the sport.
Now a mother of two kids, she says her fire still burns bright but of course there is intrigue with her not playing for three years. She could face Wimbledon champion, Marketa Vondrousova in the second round early on.
Elina Svitolina also continues her Summer of Svitolina, while Venus Williams has also been handed a wildcard. In a tournament of returns, Jennifer Brady makes her WTA 1000 return after playing Washington. So not only Wozniacki to return in Canada this next week.
Home heroes Fernandez and Andreescu also in action, Bouchard qualifying depending
There is also as ever the added intrigue of top Canadian talent in action with Bianca Andreescu recently saying that she felt like 2019 again. That was ominous given her run at the Canadian Open back then.
She lost though early to Marta Kostyuk in Washington to pay heed to that but will count on top billing and home support in Montreal. As will Leylah Fernandez who is off the back of a great week in DC reaching the Quarter-Finals losing to Maria Sakkari.
Eugenie Bouchard could join them, but that is qualifying dependent facing Danielle Collins on Saturday (05 August). Other top seeds to mention overall from the draw include Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Caroline Garcia, the aforementioned Sakkari and Petra Kvitova.
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