Canadian Open 2024 Draw: Coco Gauff's projected path to final ft. potential SF clash vs Jessica Pegula
Coco Gauff is the top seed at the 2024 National Bank Open, also known as the Canadian Open, which starts on August 6. The event marks the beginning of the North American hardcourt swing on both the WTA and ATP calendars leading up to the US Open.
The women's draw at this year's Canadian Open consists of 56 players with 16 seeded entries. Coco Gauff is one of the favorites to capture the title.
The American has had a good season in 2024, going 37-11, winning the ASB Classic and reaching two Grand Slam semifinals. Gauff's last few events have been disappointing, though, as she lost to Emma Navarro in the fourth round of Wimbledon and to eventual silver medalist Donna Vekic in the third round of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Due to her top seeding, Coco Gauff received a bye in her opening match at the Canadian Open. Let's look at the projected path for Gauff to reach the final at the 2024 Canadian Open.
Coco Gauff's likely 2R opponent - Sofia Kenin
Coco Gauff could face former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in the first round of the 2024 Canadian Open.
The last event for Kenin was the Citi Open, where she lost to Paula Badosa in the first round. At the Canadian Open, Kenin has entered as a replacement for Elena Rybakina, who withdrew due to injury.
It has been a struggle for Kenin in 2024, as the former Grand Slam champion has struggled to make headway at any of the events, often finding it difficult to qualify for the main draw.
Kenin leads the head-to-head 2-1 against Gauff, having won the last encounter at Wimbledon last year.
Coco Gauff's likely 3R opponent - Diana Shnaider
Gauff could face one of the most in-form players of the season, Diana Shnaider, in the third round.
Shnaider last played at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she lost in the second round to Wang Xiyu of China. However, she won a medal in women's doubles, with Mirra Andreeva.
Shnaider, the World No. 24, has a 37-15 record in 2024, winning three titles. The Russian won the Hua Hin Championships, Bad Homburg Open and Hungarian Grand Prix, doing so on three different surfaces.
Gauff and Shnaider are yet to play each other on the WTA Tour.
Coco Gauff's likely QF opponent - Liudmila Samsonova
Gauff could face last year's Candian Open runner-up Liudmila Samsonova in the quarter-final. Samsonova was last in action at the Citi Open, where she was the third seed but retired against Paula Badosa.
Overall, Samsonova has had a mediocre 2024, going 18-17. Her best performance is winning the Libema Open, beating Bianca Andreescu in the final. The World No. 13 also reached the semi-finals of the Abu Dhabi Open and the Internationaux de Strasbourg.
Gauff has a 3-0 record against Samsonova, with the American winning their last match in the Citi Open semi-final last year.
Coco Gauff's likely SF opponent - Jessica Pegula
Gauff could face off against compatriot Jessica Pegula in the semi-final of the 2024 Canadian Open.
Pegula is the defending champion and was last in action at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she lost to Elina Svitolina in the second round. Pegula and Gauff also teamed up in doubles in Paris, losing to the Czech pair of Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova in the second round.
Pegula has a 21-10 record for the season. Her only title of the year came at the EcoTrans Ladies Open in Berlin, where she beat Anna Kalinskaya in the final.
Pegula has a 4-1 record against Gauff, winning their last match in the semi-final of the EcoTrans Ladies Open this year.
Coco Gauff's likely Final opponent - Aryna Sabalenka
Second seed and World No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka will be the likely opponent for Coco Gauff in the final of the 2024 Canadian Open. Sabalenka came back from a short injury break to play the Citi Open as the top seed but lost to Marie Bouzkova in a tight three-setter in the semi-final.
Overall, it has been a successful season for Sabalenka. She won her second career Major at the Australian Open and also reached back-to-back finals in Madrid and Rome. Her overall season record is 32-11.
Gauff has a 4-3 record against Sabalenka, but the Belarusian won their last encounter at this year's Australian Open semi-final.