British No. 2 Cameron Norrie added another comfortable win to his résumé at the National Bank Open in Montreal, advancing to a third-round clash with Alex De Minaur, the husband of recent surprise qualifier Katie Boulter. After ending a six‑match losing streak with a semifinal run in Los Cabos the previous week, Norrie opened his Canadian campaign with a solid straight‑sets triumph over Argentina's Camilo Ugo Carabelli and then continued his momentum against Peru's Ignacio Buse.
Ranked four places below the world No. 33 Buse, the 30‑year‑old Englishman dispatched his opponent with a decisive 6‑3, 6‑3 scoreline in just 89 minutes.
Throughout the match Norrie displayed his trademark consistency, saving three of the four break points he faced while converting four of his eleven opportunities on serve. His ability to mix deep, defensive strokes with aggressive forward play forced Buse onto the back foot repeatedly. Analyst Annabel Croft, speaking on Sky Sports Tennis, praised Norrie's experience and tactical awareness: "He was simply too seasoned, too much variety for his opponent.
He applied pressure at the right moments and defended exceptionally well, using depth to keep the ball low. We also saw him step forward frequently, asking a lot of questions and dictating play. His serve dipped a little in the second set but he quickly found his rhythm again." In a separate highlight, 19‑year‑old Brazilian João Fonseca marked his return to the tour with a stylish straight‑sets victory over former finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas, winning 7‑6 (7‑3), 7‑5 in his first match since Wimbledon.
Fonseca reflected on his growth during the post‑match interview, noting, "Last year I would have lost my mind in this situation. I’m a more mature João now. After a couple of weeks off, I felt a bit tense serving for the match, but I managed to stay calm, hit solid returns and put pressure on him. The break at 5‑5 was crucial." He added that playing against top‑ranked opponents such as Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Ben Shelton and Novak Djokovic over the past two years has sharpened his mental resilience, describing his confidence as one of his biggest weapons.
The tournament also saw a major upset when top seed Alexander Zverev, fresh from a Wimbledon final appearance, was eliminated 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 said he had been working harder than ever in recent weeks, explained, "I felt it was just a matter of time.
This win is special, especially against a player of Sascha’s caliber." His Dutch compatriot Botic van de Zandschulp also produced a statement victory, beating Daniil Medvedev 6‑3, 7‑6 (7‑5) in the Russian's first ATP Tour match since his Wimbledon third‑round exit. Van de Zandschulp admitted, "I had never beaten Medvedev before, but I forced myself out of my comfort zone and it paid off." British No.
5 Jacob Fearnley, who earned his place in the main draw through qualifying, was knocked out in the second round by world No. 17 Jakub Mensik, falling 6‑3, 3‑6, 6‑3. Meanwhile, home favorite Ben Shelton kept his title defence hopes alive with a 6‑3, 7‑5 win over Jenson Brooksby.
Shelton took the first set comfortably, but Brooksby fought back in the second, leading 4‑1 before Shelton raised his level, breaking twice to close the set and avoid a deciding third set. Shelton’s next opponent will be 31st‑seed Zizou Bergs of Belgium.
In another surprise, Argentine youngster Thiago Agustín Tirante stunned the crowd by defeating Taylor Fritz 7‑5, 6‑3. Fritz, who had recently lifted his biggest title in nearly four years at the ATP 500 event in Washington, appeared physically hampered, allowing the 22‑year‑old Argentine to dictate play.
Across the border in Toronto, American star Coco Gauff recorded her first win since Wimbledon, beating Kayla Day 6‑2, 7‑5. Gauff quipped after the match, "I saw the new Spider‑Man film. I was going to make a big spoiler joke but I won’t.” Women’s competition also featured a thrilling encounter as Elena Rybakina opened her campaign by overcoming Daria Kasatkina 6‑3, 5‑7, 6‑4, despite a chaotic serving performance. Rybakina launched the match with six consecutive winners and amassed 58 winners overall, including 15 aces, but also committed 58 unforced errors and 16 double faults.
She will next meet Ann Li, who advanced by defeating Canada’s Kayla Cross 7‑6 (7‑2), 6‑3. Overall, the National Bank Open in Montreal has delivered a mix of expected victories and shocking upsets, highlighting the depth of talent on the ATP and WTA tours. With several top seeds already eliminated, the draw is wide open, offering lower‑ranked players a genuine chance to make deep runs. Fans can continue to follow the action live on Sky Sports, via the NOW streaming service, or through the Sky Sports app, which provides additional coverage and exclusive content for subscribers.
The tournament promises more exciting matchups as it moves into the later stages, with the potential for new champions to emerge and established stars to reaffirm their dominance.