Canadian Open 2024: Women's singles draw analysis, preview and prediction ft. potential Coco Gauff vs Aryna Sabalenka final

The women's singles draw for the 2024 Canadian Open (August 6-12) was unveiled on Saturday, August 3. We are in for a week of high-octane tennis action.

Coco Gauff is the top seed at the WTA 1000 tournament in the absence of World No. 1 Iga Swiatek. The reigning US Open champion will aim to secure her second title of the season.

Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula, Jelena Ostapenko, and Daria Kasatkina complete the top five seeds. Each of them poses a significant challenge and could easily thwart Gauff's quest.

There are many exciting first-round matches lined up, including an all-American clash between Amanda Anisimova and Caroline Dolehide, Ons Jabeur vs. Naomi Osaka, Leylah Fernandez vs. Zhang Shuai, and Victoria Azarenka vs. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

With that in mind, let's dive into how the women's singles draw of the 2024 Canadian Open might unfold over the next seven days.

First Quarter: Coco Gauff looks to turn her fortunes around

Seeded Players: (1) Coco Gauff, (6) Liudmila Samsonova, (9) Ons Jabeur, (14) Diana Shnaider

Expected Quarterfinal: Coco Gauff vs Ons Jabeur

Dark Horse: (WC) Naomi Osaka

The first quarter features big names, with Coco Gauff being a key focus. Gauff hasn't had the best season, securing just one title at the ASB Classic in January. She enters the tournament after a disappointing performance at the Paris Olympics, where she was eliminated in the third round by eventual silver medalist Donna Vekic in singles.

The American will begin her journey in Toronto in the second round against either a qualifier or compatriot Sofia Kenin, having received a first-round bye. In the following round, she could face Diana Shnaider or Magdalena Frech before potentially taking on Naomi Osaka or Ons Jabeur in the quarterfinals—a matchup that would be a significant test for her.

Gauff excels on hard courts, having claimed her first Grand Slam on the surface. If the 20-year-old can keep her composure, she has a good chance of overcoming either Osaka or Jabeur and advancing to the semifinals.

Quarterfinal Prediction: Gauff def. Jabeur

Second Quarter: Jessica Pegula to defend her Canadian Open title

Seeded Players: (3) Jessica Pegula, (7) Madison Keys, (12) Victoria Azarenka, (15) Leylah Fernandez

Expected Quarterfinal: Jessica Pegula vs Madison Keys

Dark Horse: Karolina Pliskova

Defending champion Jessica Pegula will aim to retain her title in Toronto when she begins her campaign on August 7. She will face either Karolina Pliskova or Nadia Podoroska in the second round, courtesy of a first-round bye.

If Pegula progresses past the second round, she could encounter 15th seed and former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez, who is a tough nut to crack. Should she overcome the home favorite, the American could face either Victoria Azarenka or countrywoman Madison Keys in the quarterfinals—whom she has the potential to defeat if she's at her best.

Quarterfinal Prediction: Pegula def. Keys

Third Quarter: Jelena Ostapenko and Elina Svitolina could lock horns in QF

Seeded Players: (4) Jelena Ostapenko, (8) Emma Navarro, (11) Marta Kostyuk, (16) Dayana Yastremska

Expected Quarterfinal: Jelena Ostapenko vs Elina Svitolina

Dark Horse: Paula Badosa

Fourth seed Jelena Ostapenko arrives at the 2024 Canadian Open following a disappointing first-round exit at the Paris Olympics. Despite that setback, the Latvian has shown decent form this season, having secured titles in Adelaide and Linz.

Ostapenko will begin her campaign against either Paula Badosa or Clara Tauson. This could be a challenging start, as Badosa has regained her form and recently reached the final of the Citi Open. If she advances past this match, the fourth seed might face Dayana Yastremska in the third round.

Another player to watch in this section is Elina Svitolina, who has been enjoying a remarkable resurgence since returning to the WTA Tour after becoming a mother. Svitolina will start her campaign against Shelby Rogers and could face her first seeded opponent in compatriot Marta Kostyuk in the second round.

Svitolina has the potential to overcome Kostyuk and then get past Emma Navarro. This would lead to a quarterfinal showdown with Ostapenko, whom the Ukrainian is capable of defeating to book a spot in the semifinals.

Quarterfinal Prediction: Svitolina def. Ostapenko

Fourth Quarter: Aryna Sabalenka aims to lift 2nd title of 2024

Seeded Players: (2) Aryna Sabalenka, (5) Daria Kasatkina, (10) Anna Kalinskaya, (13) Beatriz Haddad Maia

Expected Quarterfinal: Aryna Sabalenka vs Anna Kalinskaya

Dark Horse: Katie Boulter

Two-time Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenka is in this section of the draw and will aim to win her second title of the season at the Canadian Open, having previously won the Australian Open in January. The Belarusian has returned to the tour after a month-long break to recover from a shoulder injury that forced her to withdraw from Wimbledon.

Sabalenka, who has been in strong form this season aside from her injury, will begin her campaign at the WTA 1000 tournament against either Cristina Bucsa or Yuan Yue in the second round. If she progresses, she could face either Beatriz Haddad Maia or Katie Boulter.

The World No. 3 is expected to overcome this hurdle and advance to the quarterfinals, where she might defeat Anna Kalinskaya or Daria Kasatkina to reach the semifinals.

Another player to keep an eye on in this section is home favorite Bianca Andreescu, who could deliver some surprising upsets.

Quarterfinal Prediction: Sabalenka def. Kalinskaya