Preview:Canadian Open: Bianca Andreescu vs. Barbora Krejcikova - prediction, form, head-to-head

Bianca Andreescu and Barbora Krejcikova face off in the first round of the Canadian Open, with the winner progressing in Sunday’s battle of the former Grand Slam champions.

Neither player has competed since the grass season, where the 2024 Wimbledon champion last appeared at the Championships, and the 2019 US Open winner failed to qualify for the main draw at SW19.

Match preview

Andreescu has struggled to build momentum in 2025 as she aims to reach her former heights on the women's tour.

The former world No. 4 and 2019 US Open champion's year has seen her secure victories at WTA 1000 events in Madrid and Rome, while reaching the quarter-finals of 's Hertogenbosch.

However, the 2019 Canadian Open champion failed to qualify for the main draws of Roland Garros and Wimbledon, losing to Nao Hibino and Carson Branstine, respectively.

Returning to competitive play for the first time since her defeat by Branstine in the second round of qualifying at SW19, the 25-year-old Canadian hopes to capitalise on her wildcard on home soil to cause an upset against Krejcikova.

Although the world No. 188 has home advantage, her 8-8 record in 2025 indicates mixed results, which does not bode well for Sunday's match against the two-time Slam winner.

On the other side of the net, Krejcikova enters Sunday as the favourite to progress, though perhaps not by much.

After battling a severe back injury for most of 2025, the Czech star's run at the French Open ended in the second round, and her hopes of defending her Wimbledon title were cast into doubt when a thigh injury forced her withdrawal from Eastbourne.

Nevertheless, the 29-year-old returned at the Championships, where she required two three-set victories over Alexandra Eala and Caroline Dolehide before eventually losing to Emma Navarro in round three.

As a result of those losses, the former No. 2 in the world has dropped to No. 78 ahead of the Canadian Open, down 62 places from her 16th ranking at SW19, and she is now seeking a response in Montreal.

Entering Sunday's match with a 5-4 season record, victory for Krejcikova would be her sixth of the year, setting up a second-round encounter with Mirra Andreeva.

Head To Head

Linz (2017) - Qualifying: Krejcikova 6-4 6-2

Although both women will face each other for the first time in the main draw, Krejcikova was the winner in their 2017 meeting in Linz during qualifying eight years ago.

The Czech player barely broke a sweat in that match in Austria, where she dropped just six games in a 6-4, 6-2 victory, and a similar result will be just what the doctor ordered.

We say: Krejcikova to win in three sets

Krejcikova’s last five matches have gone the distance, and Sunday's first-round contest with Andreescu could follow the same pattern.

The pair's first main-draw encounter should ebb and flow, but the Czech star should emerge victorious and set up a second-round meeting with Andreeva.