British No. 2 Cameron Norrie added another comfortable win to his résumé at the National Bank Open in Montreal, booking a third‑round clash with Alex De Minaur, the husband of Katie Boulter. After snapping a six‑match losing streak on his way to the Los Cabos semi‑finals the previous week, Norrie continued his resurgence by dispatching Peru's Ignacio Buse in straight sets.
The 30‑year‑old, who sits four places below the world No. 33 Peruvian, produced a tidy 6‑3, 6‑3 victory in just 89 minutes. He weathered three of the four break points he faced and seized four of the eleven opportunities he created on his opponent's serve.
Norrie's composure and tactical awareness were evident throughout, as he mixed deep defensive strokes with aggressive forward play, keeping Buse on the back foot. Analyst Annabel Croft, speaking on Sky Sports Tennis, highlighted Norrie's experience: "He was simply more seasoned, had a richer arsenal than his opponent, and applied pressure at the right moments. His defensive depth was excellent, and he wasn't afraid to step forward and dictate the rally.
Even when his second‑set serve dipped a little, he quickly found his rhythm again." In a separate match, 19‑year‑old Brazilian João Fonseca made a statement in his first tour‑level appearance since Wimbledon, defeating former finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas 7‑6 (7‑3), 7‑5. Fonseca reflected on the win, saying, "Last year I would have lost my mind after a match like this. I'm a more mature version of myself now. I knew I'd be a little tense serving for the match after a couple of weeks off, but I felt good, hit solid returns and applied pressure when it mattered.
That break at 5‑5 was crucial." He added that competing against top players such as Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Ben Shelton and Novak Djokovic over the past two years has sharpened his mental toughness, which he now regards as one of his greatest weapons. "Those experiences have been vital for my development," Fonseca said.
The tournament saw a major upset when No. 1 seed Alexander Zverev, fresh off a Wimbledon final appearance, was knocked out by Tallon Griekspoor 6‑7 (3‑7), 6‑2, 6‑4 after No. 2 seed Felix Auger‑Aliassime withdrew earlier in the day. Griekspoor, who has been training intensely, explained, "I've been working harder than ever and my practice level has risen dramatically over the past weeks.
I felt it was only a matter of time before I could translate that into a win, especially against a player of Sascha's calibre. This victory feels special." Dutch compatriot Botic van de Zandschulp also produced a stunning result, edging Daniil Medvedev 6‑3, 7‑6 (7‑5).
It was Medvedev's first ATP Tour match since his third‑round exit at Wimbledon. Van de Zandschulp said, "I had never beaten him before, but today I forced myself out of my comfort zone and it paid off." British No. 5 Jacob Fearnley, who entered the main draw via qualifying, was eliminated in the second round by world No. 17 Jakub Mensik, losing 6‑3, 3‑6, 6‑3.
Meanwhile, home favourite Ben Shelton looked strong after a 6‑3, 7‑5 win over Jenson Brooksby, positioning himself as a serious contender to retain his Montreal title. Shelton took the first set comfortably, but Brooksby rallied to lead 4‑1 in the second. Shelton responded by raising his intensity, breaking twice to close the set 7‑5 and avoid a deciding third set. He will meet 31st seed Zizou Bergs of Belgium in the round of 32.
Casper Ruud, sporting a fresh haircut, dominated Juan Manuel Cerúnldo 6‑1, 6‑2, showcasing his aggressive baseline game and powerful serve. In a surprise result, Argentina's Thiago Agustín Tirante upset Taylor Fritz 7‑5, 6‑3.
Fritz appeared physically drained after a grueling ATP 500 final in Washington the previous week, which may have contributed to his sub‑par performance. Across the border in Toronto, American rising star Coco Gauff recorded her first win since Wimbledon, beating Kayla Day 6‑2, 7‑5.
Gauff joked after the match, "I saw the new Spider‑Man film and was going to make a big spoiler joke, but I decided against it." Kazakh champion Elena Rybakina opened her campaign with a hard‑fought victory over Daria Kasatkina, 6‑3, 5‑7, 6‑4, advancing to the third round despite a chaotic serving display. Rybakina blasted 58 winners, including 15 aces, but also committed 58 unforced errors and 16 double faults, underscoring the high‑risk, high‑reward nature of her aggressive style. She will next face Ann Li, who dispatched Canada's Kayla Cross 7‑6 (7‑2), 6‑3. The Montreal event continues to deliver excitement, with several top seeds already eliminated and lower‑ranked players seizing the moment.
Fans can follow live action via Sky Sports, the NOW streaming service, or the Sky Sports app, which offers over 50% more live sport this year at no extra charge for subscribers. The tournament promises more drama as the field narrows toward the quarter‑finals and beyond.