Coco Gauff and Danielle Collins, both hailing from Florida and long-time acquaintances, are poised to meet face-to-face in singles competition for the first time at the Montreal Open. The players, who collaborated successfully to claim a United Cup title for the United States this year, have yet to encounter each other individually in tournament play.

Collins displayed remarkable intensity and vocal determination during her victorious first-round match over Viktoriya Tomova, 6-3, 7-5, signaling her eagerness for this upcoming match. Despite being ranked No. 61 with a 15-11 record this season, Collins, who had considered retirement after last season, brings a fierceness that cannot be underestimated.

Gauff enters the match as the strong favorite, carrying a 31-10 record in 2025 along with a Grand Slam title. However, her recent form merits attention; she exited Wimbledon early with a disappointing loss to Dayana Yastremska, struggling with her serve and forehand. This raises the question of which Gauff will emerge on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. ET—her confident self fresh off Roland Garros or the one battling to regain momentum.

The match promises a compelling tactical battle as Collins is known for her powerful groundstrokes that could exploit Gauff’s forehand vulnerabilities. Given their familiarity and mutual respect, it may take some time for Gauff to fully adjust and find her rhythm against this formidable opponent.

Mirra Andreeva, the young Russian talent, is set to meet Bianca Andreescu in a notable Montreal clash. Both have a shared trajectory starting with early success at Indian Wells, where Andreescu won six years ago and Andreeva this spring. Andreescu once defeated Serena Williams twice in major finals in her breakthrough year, and now Andreeva aspires to follow in those footsteps.

Despite Andreeva’s promising start, including quarterfinal appearances at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, she’s yet to move beyond that stage this season, accumulating five quarterfinal losses post-Indian Wells. Her youthful energy is sometimes undermined by emotional challenges on court, presenting opportunities for opponents like Andreescu to exploit with their contrasting styles.

Andreescu, known for her aggressive play and vocal presence, has had success disrupting opponents. Her recent victory over Barbora Krejcikova in Montreal was gritty, although she sustained a rolled ankle towards the match’s end, adding a variable to the upcoming encounter.

Their playing styles offer a compelling tactical clash: both wield effective backhands and employ forehand slices to upset rhythm; Andreescu favors attacking, while Andreeva relies on defensive resilience. This first meeting promises to test both young players’ capacity to adapt under pressure.

Holger Rune, seeded No. 5 at the National Bank Open in Toronto, faces a tough test against the powerful Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. The 22-year-old Rune recently spent time training with Andre Agassi, focusing on improving his return game. “He gives very good advice on how to return,” Rune told Ziggo Sport. “He was an incredible returner, as I am too, so we can share information and that’s great.”

Rune’s return skills will be put to the test against Mpetshi Perricard, a towering 6-foot-8 player known for his formidable serve. The Frenchman presents one of the toughest serves to return on tour. Rune holds a 0-1 head-to-head record against him, having lost their only previous match on indoor hard courts last fall in Basel.

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, once seen as a rising star in the Top 30 and a potential future Top 10 player, has faced challenges this season, holding a 10-15 record and dropping to No. 43 in the rankings. Rune, meanwhile, despite some back issues that forced a withdrawal from the DC Open, has maintained a top 10 ranking at No. 9 and boasts a 22-14 overall record this year, including a title win over Carlos Alcaraz.

With marquee players like Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic absent, Rune sees this as a prime opportunity. Agassi advised Rune to play a somewhat slower style of tennis to better utilize his power and shot quality. Rune explained, “What he tried to explain to me is that he wanted my tennis to be a bit slower. And he thinks I can do things much easier with my power and quality in my shots.”

The match is scheduled to start around 12:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 29, with live coverage available on TennisChannel.com.