British No. 2 Cameron Norrie secured a straightforward win at the National Bank Open in Montreal, paving the way for a third‑round clash with Alex De Minaur, the husband of Katie Boulter. After ending a six‑match losing streak that had haunted him on his way to the Los Cabos semi‑finals last week, Norrie built on his opening Canadian victory over Camilo Ugo Carabelli by dispatching Peru's Ignacio Buse with confidence.
The 30‑year‑old, who sits four places below the Peruvian world No. 33, wrapped up the match in just 1 hour and 29 minutes, posting a tidy 6‑3 6‑3 scoreline. He demonstrated composure under pressure, saving three of the four break points he faced and converting four of his eleven opportunities on serve.
Analyst Annabel Croft, speaking on Sky Sports Tennis, praised Norrie's experience and tactical acumen. "He was simply too seasoned, too many weapons for his opponent. He applied pressure at the right moments and defended with depth, often moving forward to dictate play. His serve dipped a little in the second set, but he quickly found his rhythm again," she explained.
In a separate first‑tour‑level appearance since Wimbledon, 19‑year‑old Brazilian João Fonseca stunned former finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas, winning 7‑6 (7‑3) 7‑5. Fonseca reflected on his growth, noting, "Last year I would have lost my mind in that situation. I'm a more mature João now.
After a couple of weeks without playing, I knew I'd feel a bit tense serving for the match, but I felt good, hit solid returns and put pressure on him. 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 strength, which he now regards as one of his biggest assets.
The tournament took another dramatic turn when top seed Felix Auger‑Aliassime withdrew, opening the door for No. 1 seed and Wimbledon finalist Alexander Zverev, who was subsequently upset by Tallon Griekspoor 6‑7 (3‑7) 6‑2 6‑4. Griekspoor, speaking after his win, said, "I've been working harder and harder lately and have reached a good level in practice over the past couple of weeks.
It felt like only a matter of time before I could pull off a win like this, especially against a player of Sascha's calibre." Dutch compatriot Botic van de Zandschulp also produced a notable upset, beating 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 explained, "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 earned his spot through qualifying, was eliminated in the second round after a 6‑3 3‑6 6‑3 loss to world No. 17 Jakub Mensik.
Meanwhile, home favourite Ben Shelton looked strong after a 6‑3 7‑5 victory over Jenson Brooksby, positioning himself as a contender to retain his title. Shelton captured the first set comfortably, but Brooksby fought back in the second, taking an early 4‑1 lead.
Shelton raised his level, secured two crucial breaks and closed the set 7‑5, avoiding 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 Cerún d'Oló 6‑1 6‑2, showcasing the form that has made him a consistent threat on hard courts. In another surprise, Thiago Agustín Tirante upset Taylor Fritz 7‑5 6‑3; Fritz appeared physically limited after carrying the momentum of his recent ATP 500 title in Washington.
Across the border in Toronto, American rising star Coco Gauff recorded her first win since Wimbledon, defeating 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 decided not to." Women's champion Elena Rybakina opened her campaign with a hard‑fought win over Daria Kasatkina, 6‑3 5‑7 6‑4, advancing to the third round despite a tumultuous serving display.
Rybakina blasted 58 winners, including 15 aces, but also committed 58 unforced errors and 16 double faults, highlighting the fine line between aggression and inconsistency. She will next face Ann Li, who earned her spot by beating Canada's Kayla Cross 7‑6 (7‑2) 6‑3. The Montreal event continues to deliver unexpected results and thrilling narratives, with several top seeds already eliminated and lower‑ranked players seizing the moment.
Fans can follow live action on Sky Sports, NOW, or the Sky Sports app, which offers more than 50% additional live sport coverage at no extra cost for subscribers. The tournament's open draw promises further excitement as players vie for the coveted title in the coming days.