Canada’s Kayla Cross let a one-set lead slip away in a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 loss to Kamilla Rakhimova of Russia in the National Bank Open’s first round Monday afternoon.
Cross, a 20-year-old from London, Ont., who’s ranked 151st in the world, fell to the 62nd-ranked Rakhimova in one hour 55 minutes on the hard court at IGA Stadium.
It was their first career meeting on the WTA Tour.
Later in the afternoon, Ariana Arseneault of Richmond Hill, Ont., was set to face Japan’s Naomi Osaka.
WATCH | Bouchard receives plaudits ahead of her farewell to tennis:
Eugenie Bouchard, who grew up in Westmount, Que., is competing in her last tournament before she retires, finishing off her career at home.
In the evening, local favourite Eugenie Bouchard will begin her final run in professional tennis against Colombia’s Emiliana Arango. The 31-year-old Bouchard, a former world No. 5, recently announced she would retire after her hometown event.
Carson Branstine, who grew up in California but represents Canada through family ties in Toronto, takes on Greece’s Maria Sakkari in the final match of the night.
Martin swept on men’s side in Toronto
Canada’s Dan Martin fell 6-3, 6-0 to Spain’s Jaume Munar in opening-round action at the National Bank Open tennis tournament on Monday.
The 26-year-old Martin made it into the main draw as a qualifier after defeating Japan’s Taro Daniel in three sets on Saturday.
Munar, ranked 51st in the world, fired six aces without a double fault in the one-hour, 10-minute match. He also broke on five of his 10 chances while winning 86 per cent of his first-serve points.
The Spaniard will next face 14th-seeded Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina.
Later Monday, Liam Draxl of Newmarket, Ont., plays Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain, and Alexis Galarneau of Laval, Que., is set to face Arthur Rinderknech of France.
