KAROLINA PLISKOVA of the Czech Republic plays a backhand in her singles match against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global at Singapore Sports Hub in Singapore. Picture: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Czech Karolina Pliskova is on track to claim world No.1 from Ashleigh Barty if Japanese superstar Naomi Osaka is eliminated from the Canadian Open.
Barty's 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-4 loss to American Sofia Kenin in her first match of the American hardcourt season on Wednesday has left the door wide open for world No.2 Osaka to regain the top ranking at the Canadian Open.
The reigning US Open and Australian Open champion, Osaka will return to No.1 if she wins her second-round match in Toronto against German qualifier Tatjana Maria.
But former world No.1 Karolina Pliskova can also reclaim the top ranking this week for the first time in almost two years if she reaches the semi-finals and Osaka exits.
And Pliskova, the first Czech ever to hold the top spot, has opened her campaign in Toronto perfectly by beating Alison Riske, the American who snapped Barty's long winning streak in the Wimbledon fourth round last month.
The Czech defeated Riske 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 and will next face Anett Kontaveit, who's previous opponent Carla Suarez Navarro retired while trailing 7-5 3-1.
Meanwhile, Wimbledon champion Simona Halep survived a stern test from American qualifier Jennifer Brady with a 4-6 7-5 7-6 (7-5) victory to reach the last 16 and keep alive her hopes of a second consecutive title in Toronto.
Fourth seed Halep, who requested a medical timeout to get treatment on her left leg after the second set, clinched the two-hour 26-minute battle on her second match point when a Brady backhand caught the top of the net.
"She played great and ... she made a great match and was really difficult to play against," Halep said in her on-court interview after her first career meeting with Brady.
Next up for Halep, who won the event last year in Montreal, will be the winner of Wednesday's match between Croatia's Donna Vekic and Russian wildcard Svetlana Kuznetsova.
In other early action, Ukrainian sixth seed Elina Svitolina, who won in Toronto two years ago, beat Czech Katerina Siniakova 6-3 3-6 6-3 to reach the third round.
Ukrainian teenager Dayana Yastremska, who has won titles in Strasbourg and Hua Hin this year, did well to shake off the nerves and secure a 7-5 7-5 upset victory over former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka.
Three-times champion Serena Williams, who has said she wants to get more matches in before seeking a record-equalling 24th career grand slam title at the US Open, kicks off the evening session against Belgian Elise Mertens.
