Olympic champion Monica Puig likely to ease past Brengle in Quebec

Monica Puig has rarely demonstrated the form that saw her win Puerto Rico's first and so far only Olympic gold medal at Rio in 2016 but the 24-year-old should still have too much for Madison Brengle in the second round of the WTA Coupe Banque Nationale.

Puig has had a moderate season but is a dangerous hard-court player and produced her best finish of 2018 when reaching the semi-finals of the Connecticut Open during the US Open Series - a run that included a victory over world number four Caroline Garcia.

The Puerto Rican might well have gone all the way in New Haven had she not been forced to retire with injury at 4-4 in the first set of her semi-final against Carla Suarez Navarro. However, she showed no ill effects when handing out a 6-0 6-0 beating to Stefanie Voegele in the first round of the US Open.

Garcia gained revenge in round two at Flushing Meadows but Puig again played well, winning the second set and losing the decider 6-4, and was in similar form when dismissing Beatriz Haddad Maia in her Quebec opener.

American Brengle failed to qualify for her home Open and was brushed aside by Tatjana Maria in a 125K series event in Chicago last week. She looks vulnerable against a player of Puig's undoubted ability and the Olympian can be backed giving up 3.5 games on the handicap.

Recommendation
M Puig -3.5 games
2pts 17-20 Hills

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