British No. 2 Cameron Norrie added another comfortable win to his résumé 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 skid with a semi‑final run in Los Cabos the previous week, Norrie opened his Canadian campaign with a straight‑sets victory over Camilo Ugo Carabelli and then continued his momentum against Peru's Ignacio Buse.
Ranked four spots behind the world No. 33 Buse, Norrie dispatched the Peruvian in 1 hour and 29 minutes, delivering 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. The match showcased Norrie's blend of experience and tactical acumen, qualities that analyst Annabel Croft highlighted on Sky Sports Tennis.
Croft noted that Norrie's seasoned game allowed him to dictate play, applying pressure at critical moments while defending with depth and consistency. She added that although his second‑set serve dipped briefly, he quickly regained his rhythm. In a separate story, 19‑year‑old Brazilian João Fonseca marked his first tour‑level appearance since Wimbledon by defeating former finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas 7‑6 (7‑3) 7‑5.
Fonseca reflected on his growth, saying he felt more mature than the previous year and that a brief period without competition had made him slightly tense when serving for the match. He praised his own return game and the ability to seize a pivotal break at 5‑5. The youngster also emphasized how playing against top‑ranked opponents such as Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Ben Shelton and Novak Djokovic over the past two years had bolstered his mental strength, turning confidence into a decisive weapon.
The tournament saw further upheaval when No. 1 seed and Wimbledon finalist Alexander Zverev was knocked out by Tallon Griekspoor 6‑7 (3‑7) 6‑2 6‑4, just hours after No. 2 seed Felix Auger‑Aliassime withdrew.
Griekspoor, who said he had been working harder than ever in recent weeks, felt the win was inevitable and special, especially against a player of Zverev's caliber. Dutch compatriot Botic van de Zandschulp also caused an upset, beating Daniil Medvedev 6‑3 7‑6 (7‑5) in the Russian's first ATP Tour match since his third‑round exit at Wimbledon. Van de Zandschulp explained that he had to abandon his comfort zone and adapt his game to secure the victory. British No.
5 Jacob Fearnley, who had earned his place in the main draw through qualifying, was eliminated in the second round by world No. 17 Jakub Mensik, falling 6‑3 3‑6 6‑3.
Meanwhile, home favourite Ben Shelton continued his title defence with a 6‑3 7‑5 win over Jenson Brooksby. Shelton took the first set with ease, but Brooksby rallied in the second, briefly leading 4‑1.
Shelton responded by raising his level, breaking twice to close the set and avoid a deciding third set. He will next face 31st seed Zizou Bergs of Belgium in the round of 32. Casper Ruud, sporting a fresh haircut, displayed dominant form by crushing Juan Manuel Cerúnldo 6‑1 6‑2.
In another surprise, Thiago Agustín Tirante stunned Taylor Fritz 7‑5 6‑3; Fritz had been dealing with physical fatigue after lifting his biggest title at the ATP 500 event in Washington just days earlier. Across the border in Toronto, American star Coco Gauff recorded her first win since Wimbledon, defeating Kayla Day 6‑2 7‑5.
Gauff joked about avoiding a major spoiler for the new Spider‑Man film, keeping the mood light after a solid performance. On the women's side, Elena Rybakina kicked off her campaign with a hard‑fought 6‑3 5‑7 6‑4 victory over Daria Kasatkina, advancing to the third round despite a chaotic serving display.
Rybakina unleashed 58 winners, including 15 aces, but also committed 58 unforced errors, 16 of which were double faults. She will next meet Ann Li, who earned her place by beating Canada's Kayla Cross 7‑6 (7‑2) 6‑3.
The National Bank Open continues to deliver drama and unexpected results, leaving the draw wide open as several top seeds have already exited. Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports, stream via NOW, or use the Sky Sports app, which offers more than 50% additional live sport coverage at no extra cost. The tournament's blend of seasoned veterans, rising youngsters, and surprising upsets ensures that the next rounds will be as compelling as the early matches, with plenty of opportunities for new stories to emerge on the hard courts of Montreal.