British No.2 Cameron Norrie added another comfortable win to his résumé at the National Bank Open in Montreal, earning a third‑round clash with Alex De Minaur, the husband of Katie Boulter. After ending a six‑match losing streak with a run to the semi‑finals in Los Cabos last week, Norrie opened his Canadian campaign with a straight‑sets victory over Camilo Ugo Carabelli and then continued his strong form by dispatching Peru's Ignacio Buse. Ranked four places below the world No.33 Buse, Norrie dominated the encounter, sealing a 6‑3 6‑3 win in just 89 minutes.
The 30‑year‑old displayed composure under pressure, saving three of the four break points he faced and converting four of his eleven opportunities on serve. His performance was praised by Sky Sports analyst Annabel Croft, who noted that Norrie's experience and tactical awareness allowed him to dictate play, apply pressure at crucial moments, and defend with depth. Croft added that a brief dip in his second‑set serve was quickly corrected, illustrating his ability to adjust mid‑match. In a separate highlight, 19‑year‑old Brazilian João Fonseca marked his first tour‑level appearance since Wimbledon with a stylish straight‑sets win over former finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas, 7‑6 (7‑3) 7‑5.
Fonseca, who described himself as a more mature version of his younger self, explained that the short break from competition made him slightly nervous when serving for the match, but he managed to stay composed, produce solid returns, and seize a pivotal break at 5‑5. He reflected on the value of playing against elite opponents such as Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Ben Shelton and Novak Djokovic over the past two years, emphasizing that these experiences have sharpened his mental resilience and confidence, which he now considers one of his greatest weapons. The tournament also delivered a shock in the men's draw when top seed Alexander Zverev, fresh from a Wimbledon final, was upset 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 and felt his level was finally catching up to his effort, described the win as a long‑awaited breakthrough, especially against a player of Zverev's calibre. Dutch compatriot Botic van de Zandschulp added another upset, defeating Daniil Medvedev 6‑3 7‑6 (7‑5).
Van de Zandschulp, who had never beaten the Russian before, explained that he forced himself out of his comfort zone, altered his tactics, and executed the plan effectively to secure the victory. Meanwhile, British No.5 Jacob Fearnley, who earned his place in the main draw through qualifying, fell to world No.17 Jakub Mensik 6‑3 3‑6 6‑3 in the second round.
Home favourite Ben Shelton continued his title defence with a solid 6‑3 7‑5 win over Jenson Brooksby. After taking the first set comfortably, Shelton weathered a brief surge from Brooksby, who led 4‑1 in the second set, before raising his level, breaking twice, and closing out the match without needing a third set. Shelton will now meet Belgium's 31st seed Zizou Bergs in the round of 32.
Casper Ruud, sporting a fresh haircut, displayed dominant form by crushing Juan Manuel Cerúnldo 6‑1 6‑2, signalling his intent to go deep in the tournament. In another surprise, Argentina's Thiago Agustín Tirante stunned Taylor Fritz with a 7‑5 6‑3 victory, exploiting the American's physical fatigue after a grueling title run at the ATP 500 event in Washington. On the women's side, American teen sensation Coco Gauff recorded her first win since Wimbledon, beating Kayla Day 6‑2 7‑5 in Toronto.
Gauff joked about avoiding a major spoiler for the new Spider‑Man film, showing her usual blend of competitiveness and humor. Elena Rybakina, the reigning Australian Open champion, opened her campaign with a hard‑fought 6‑3 5‑7 6‑4 triumph over Daria Kasatkina, despite a chaotic serving display that saw her fire 58 winners but also commit 58 unforced errors, including 16 double faults. Rybakina will next face Ann Li, who advanced by defeating Canada's Kayla Cross 7‑6 (7‑2) 6‑3. Overall, the National Bank Open in Montreal has already produced a series of unexpected results, with several top seeds exiting early and lower‑ranked players capitalising on the opportunity.
The tournament's open draw promises further excitement as fans anticipate more upsets, breakthrough performances, and high‑quality tennis in the days ahead. Sky Sports continues to provide live coverage, video highlights, and in‑depth analysis across its platforms, while streaming options through NOW and the Sky Sports app ensure that viewers can follow every match with ease.