2024 Canadian Open Day 4: Sinner, Gauff, Zverev v Rune, Rain On Friday

Heavy rains will likely hamper play at Montreal and for the early part of the day in Toronto.

With the women likely on, Coco Gauff resumes her campaign against Paris silver medalist Diana Shnaider in a first-time meeting.

Gauff, who won her opener Thursday, is in a midst of a busy stretch of defending a boatload of ranking points.

Aryna Sabalenka takes on British No. 1 Katie Boulter. Defending champion Jessica Pegula locks up with fellow American and qualifier Ashlyn Krueger and Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko open play on Center Court.

Sabalenka is coming back from a shoulder issue.

“That’s been really tricky to play the first tournament, because you are overprotective,” Sabalenka said Thursday. “You’re trying not to overdo stuff, you are protecting your shoulder, and I think that creates more tension. I was super sore in Washington, and coming here we did a lot of recovery, a lot of mobility stretches.

“Now I feel much better with my shoulder, I realize that I don’t have to protect it, that it’s done, it’s clean, I can go for it without fear that I can get injured again. Right now I feel more free on court and nothing bothering me there and it’s out of my mind, so it means that I can stay focused on the game and just compete and do my best.”

In Montreal, which also doesn’t have a roof, tournament favorite and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner returns to meet Alejandro Tabilo. The Italian looked good in an opening win yesterday over Borna Coric.

“It’s very difficult,” Sinner said of the playing the event. “It’s not easy to play and to play here in these conditions. You know, there’s sometimes a little bit of breeze. The ball flies. So it’s tough to get into the rhythm.

It’s the first time back on hard court also, so that’s a scenario. The first match is always very difficult and tough. I was fortunate to play also a couple of matches in doubles, you know, to get this match feeling back.”

Hubert Hurkacz makes his return from knee surgery to face Thanasi Kokkinakis and in the match of the day, Alexander Zverev collides with Holger Rune. Zverev and Rune have split two meetings with the German taking a 5-setter at the French Open this year.

FRIDAY CANADIAN OPEN MONTREAL SCHEDULE
Court Central
12:00pm
(Q) Thanasi Kokkinakis vs (4) Hubert Hurkacz
Nuno Borges vs (PR) Kei Nishikori
(1) Jannik Sinner vs (15) Alejandro Tabilo

7pm
(13) Holger Rune vs (2) Alexander Zverev
(6) Casper Ruud vs Sebastian Korda or (9) Taylor Fritz

Court Rogers
12pm
Flavio Cobolli vs (Q) Arthur Rinderknech
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs Matteo Arnaldi
(Q) Brandon Nakashima vs (5) Andrey Rublev
4pm
(7) Grigor Dimitrov vs Alexei Popyrin