Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Former world number one Naomi Osaka swept aside the challenge of Ons Jabeur in the first round and next takes on tricky customer Elise Mertens in Toronto.
RANKING POINTS: WTA 1000
START DATE/TIME: UK – Friday 9th August, 2024, not before 1:15am / US ET – Thursday 8th August, 2024, not before 8:15pm / US PT – Thursday 8th August, 2024, not before 5:15pm
VENUE: Sobeys Stadium, Toronto
SURFACE: Outdoor hard
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Sky Sports Tennis / US – Tennis Channel
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Sky Go / US – Tennis Channel
TICKETS? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Naomi Osaka vs Elise Mertens
NAOMI OSAKA VS ELISE MERTENS PREDICTION
Naomi Osaka faced a potential stumbling block in the form of former world number two Ons Jabeur in the first round, but she came through with flying colours, the four-time Grand Slam champion dropping just four games against her error-strewn opponent. Osaka will be hoping to improve her serving statistics here, with the 26-year-old landing just 46% of her first serves against the Tunisian.
Although not her favourite surface, most of Elise Merten’ best results in her career have come on hard courts, and that ability was on full display during her dominant first-round win over Katie Volynets, the Belgian matching Osaka's win by coming out on top 6-3, 6-1. Mertens gave her opponent very few opening on her serve, winning 87% of points on her first serve, and that will give her some confidence that she can compete with Osaka here.
Osaka is still very much working her way back up the rankings after her hiatus in 2023, and these are the sort of games she needs to be winning if she is to rediscover the form that took her to world number one. Mertens will be no pushover though, and we think this one will go a deciding set.
NAOMI OSAKA VS ELISE MERTENS TIP: TOTAL SETS – 3