WTA - Quebec City and Hiroshima begin

With the final major done with, one may believe that the tennis is finished for 2018.

Not so, with a number of Masters 1000 and Premier tournaments to be contested.  Also the end of year finals, where the top eight from each of the WTA and ATP tours gather in Singapore and London respectively.

The end of year number one rankings are favoured to be held by Rafa Nadal and Simona Halep, as they have decent leads at present.

However, enough points are available between now and season end, for others to mount a fight for the top.  Djokovic presents a real threat.

This week, the Davis Cup is what takes the interest in men’s tennis, and the ATP tour takes a rest.

Meanwhile two WTA tournaments are underway.

• the Coupe Banque Nationale, in Quebec City, Canada, on Carpet, Uniturf. (International Category)
• the Hana-Cupid Japan Women’s Open Championships, in Hiroshima, Japan, on Hard, Deco Turf. (International Category)

Quebec City 

Aryna Sabalenka, world ranked 20, is top seed, and the only top twenty player in the draw.  All eight seeded players are in the top 100.

Early first round results

• Christine McHale defeated Dayana Yastremska 2-6 6-2 7-6(1)
• Pauline Parmentier (8) defeated Veronika Kudermetova 7-5 6-3
• Heather Watson defeated Monica Niculescu (4) 7-5 6-3
• 16 year old Canadian wildcard, Leylah Fernández, ranked 588, defeated qualifier and fellow Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski 6-3 7-5
• Madison Brengle defeated qualifier Victoria Duval 6-4 6-7(2) 6-4
• Monica Puig (3) defeated Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-2 6-3

Hiroshima 

Shuai Zhang, world ranked 41, is top seed, and all seeds are in the top 100.

Early first round results 

• Anna Karolina Schmiedlova defeated Yulia Putintseva (3) 6-2 (retired)
• Viktorija Golubic defeated wildcard Misaki Doi 0-6 6-3 7-6(1)
• Saisai Zheng (7) defeated Alison Riske 7-5 6-4
• Luksika Kumkhum defeated Yingying Duan 5-7 6-2 6-2
• Ajla Tomljanovic (5) defeated Fiona Ferro 6-4 6-1
• Lin Zhu defeated wildcard Miyu Kato 7-6(3) 6-2