Serena Williams, Elena Rybakina and Simona Halep beat the rain to win Toronto openers

MATCH POINT: Serena Williams back in win column in Toronto

A glance at the early winners from Monday at the National Bank Open in Toronto.

Serena stars

The last time Serena was in Toronto, she made her way to the final. Three years later, the 23-time major champion celebrated her first singles win since the third round of 2021 Roland Garros—and first since turning 40.

A three-time champion at the National Bank Open, Williams defeated lucky loser Nuria Parrizas-Diaz, 6-3, 6-4. A major part of her success was the result of handling pressure, when the former No. 1 erased seven of the eight break points she faced. One standout save came with Williams serving at 1-2, ad-out. On the defensive for much of a 19-shot rally, Williams finished it with a blazing crosscourt forehand winner on the run.

“I felt like I competed well today and I think that's what I needed to do is just to compete,” Williams told press.

She continued, “Mentally, I feel I'm getting there. I'm not where I normally am and I'm not where I want to be. But I think any match that I play, whether I win or lose, it helps me get there mentally.

“I'm the kind of person who it just takes one or two things and then it clicks. So I'm just waiting on that to click.”

In all but one of her first nine appearances at the 1000-level event that alternates between Toronto and Montreal, Williams has advanced to the semifinals or better.

Rybakina bounces back

Going into her first match since winning Wimbledon, Elena Rybakina admitted in San Jose that “it is difficult to start up again.” She ultimately lost to Daria Kasatkina in three sets, a defeat that didn’t look so bad by the end of the tournament when the Roland Garros semifinalist captured the trophy.

Rybakina had her hands full again, this time with Marie Bouzkova, who was fresh off winning her maiden WTA title on hard courts in Prague and followed it up with a pair of victories in qualifying over the weekend. In the all-unseeded matchup, Rybakina surged late to move forward, 7-5, 6-7 (3), 6-1, after three hours and three minutes.

Halep, Ostapenko cruise

Two fellow members of the major winners’ club also enjoyed opening wins. Simona Halep required just 61 minutes to eliminate Donna Vekic, 6-0, 6-2. The No. 15 seed did not face a break point, claiming 20 of 23 first-serve points. Later, No. 16 seed Jelena Ostapenko eased past Anhelina Kalinina, 6-4, 6-2. This marked Ostapenko’s first appearance since losing from match point up to Tatjana Maria in the round of 16 at Wimbledon.