Canadian Open 2024: 5 favorites to win the women's singles title ft. Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula 

With the 2024 Paris Olympics coming to a close, the tennis world's focus will now shift to the 2024 Canadian Open. The top players on the women's tour will vie for 1000 points in the WTA rankings at the event and begin their preparations for the US Open scheduled at the end of the month.

Iga Swiatek's exceptional three-year winning streak in Paris was ended by Zheng Qinwen at the Olympics. The Chinese No. 1 went on to clinch a gold medal for her country while the Pole had to settle for bronze.

Swiatek won't be a part of the Canadian Open, which means World No. 2 Coco Gauff will be the top seed at the event, followed in the seedings by Aryna Sabalenka. The Belarusian will enter Toronto on the back of a promising run to the semifinals in Washington, where she lost to Marie Bouzkova. The Kazakh Elena Rybakina has also been forced to withdraw from the Canadian Open due to illness.

Fans can expect some fiesty tennis and an open competition in Toronto this year. Let's take a look at five players expected to make a deep run at the event.

5) Elina Svitolina

Former World No. 3 Elina Svitolina returned to the women's tour after a maternity break in April last year. She wasted no time in finding her rhythm and captured the 2023 Internationaux de Strasbourg in May. She also performed well at the Grand Slams by reaching the semifinals of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships and the quarterfinals of the 2023 French Open.

The Ukranian came close to winning another title in Auckland this year, but Coco Gauff stood in her way in the finals. She's had a solid season so far by chalking up 24 wins from 38 matches, including reaching the quarterfinals of Wimbledon. The 29-year-old outfoxed the likes of Ons Jabeur and Wang Xin Yu en route to the last eight, but couldn't make it past Elena Rybakina.

Svitolina has a healthy record at the Candian Open, reaching the semifinals in 2018 and the quarterfinals in 2019. She will surely be one of the favorites to make a significant impact this year.

4) Jelena Ostapneko

Jelena Ostapenko has been one of the most consistent players on tour in the last couple of years. She's chalked up 28 wins from 42 matches this season, including title-winning runs at the Adelaide International and the Linz Open. She also reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon, where she lost to Barbora Krejcikova in a thrilling match 6-4, 7-6(4).

The 27-year-old has reached five finals on hardcourt in the last three years. She upset the World No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the fourth round of the US Open, but couldn't capitalize on her win to make a deep run.

Ostapenko will be keen to continue her good form and register an impressive result in Toronto. Her solid all-around game and heavy groundstrokes off both wings can cause problems for her opponents in the Canadian Open.

3) Aryna Sabalenka

Third on the list is World No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka. The Belarusian has arguably been the most clinical player on hardcourt in the last couple of years, placing her firmly among the favorites to lift the Canadian Open title.

Sabalenka opted to miss the Paris Olympics due to the hectic schedule on tour. She's had a remarkable season so far with a successful title defense in Melbourne and runner-up finishes in Madrid and Rome. She reached the quarterfinals of the French Open but was upset by Mirra Andreeva in three sets.

The 26-year-old will enter Toronto on the back of a semifinal exit in the Citi Open at the hands of Marie Bouzkova. The Czech outfoxed Sabalenka in two hours and 12 minutes 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. Considering Sabalenka's skill set on hardcourt and record at WTA 1000 events, she will be a clear favorite to make a deep run.

2) Jessica Pegula

Second on the list is defending champion Jessica Pegula. Four out of her last five titles on tour have come on hardcourt with the latest being the 2023 Korea Open in Seoul. Pegula was one win away from clinching the 2023 WTA Finals in Cancun, but Iga Swiatek stood in her way in the final.

The American has struggled to find her rhythm but has chalked up decent results this year. She's garnered 21 wins from 30 matches, including a title-winning run recently in the German Open. She also reached the semifinals in Adelaide, San Diego, and Charleston.

Pegula has a knack for finishing the season on a high and has a formidable record on the hardcourt. If she begins the tournament well and finds her range in the first few rounds, she could prove to be a force to reckon with in the Canadian Open this year.

1) Coco Gauff will be the top seed in the Canadian Open

Topping the list of favorites in the Canadian Open is American tennis sensation Coco Gauff. The 20-year-old has been easily one of the best players on tour in the last few years.

Gauff captured her maiden Grand Slam crown in the form of the US Open last year and also defended her title in Auckland at the 2024 ASB Classic. She was two wins away from clinching a famous victory in Melbourne, but couldn't get past defending champion Aryna Sabalenka.

The American has reached at least the quarterfinals in her last three appearances in the Canada Open. She will be keen to go one step further and begin her preparations for New York with a strong result. Gauff will be the top seed at the event and the one to watch for in the 2024 Canadian Open in Toronto.