Fręch finishes rain-delayed opener in Toronto, sets up quick rematch with Pegula
Magdalena Fręch defeated France's Léolia Jeanjean 7:5, 6:3 on Monday after their first-round match at the WTA 1000 in Toronto was suspended by rain at 4:4 the previous evening.
Rain-delayed start
Magdalena Fręch (48th in the WTA rankings) and qualifier Léolia Jeanjean (117th) began their first-round match on Sunday 2 August, but wet weather across North American hard-court events disrupted the schedule. The two players managed eight games, trading four breaks of serve, before rain forced organisers to suspend play at 4:4. After roughly an hour of waiting, the match was postponed to Monday.
Monday finish
When play resumed after 20:30 Polish time under sunny but windy conditions in Toronto, Fręch quickly seized the initiative. She earned a break point and served for the first set at 5:4, only for Jeanjean to level at 5:5. The Pole held firm, winning the next two games to close the opener 7:5. In the second set Fręch broke early for a 3:1 lead, saved two break-back chances at 3:2, and eventually closed out the match 6:3. Coach Andrzej Kobierski offered guidance at the changeover, with Piotr Sierzputowski (recently appointed coach of Jeļena Ostapenko) seated nearby.
Quick rematch with Pegula
Fręch's next opponent is Jessica Pegula, the world number three and third seed in Toronto. The two met just days earlier in the round of 16 at the WTA 500 in Washington, where Pegula won 6:3, 3:6, 6:0. Pegula went on to reach the Washington final against Filipina Alexandra Eala (28th WTA), a match that was also delayed by rain and scheduled to finish on Monday.
Fręch's North American swing
Before Washington, Fręch had opened her North American hard-court campaign by beating Ann Li 6:4, 6:3, overcoming a 0-5 head-to-head record against the American and saving a point that would have put Li 5:0 up in the first set. The win over Jeanjean extends her run on the continent.
Other Polish players in Toronto
Magda Linette is also in the first-round draw and will face Canadian wildcard Carol Zhao. Iga Świątek (seeded 7th) and Maja Chwalińska (seeded 18th) both received byes into the second round and are yet to learn their first opponents.
