Five years after his breakthrough victory at Indian Wells, Britain's Cameron Norrie has rediscovered the form that once propelled him to the top of the ATP rankings. In Montreal, at the National Bank Open, the 28‑year‑old Briton produced a stunning upset, eliminating the tournament's third seed, Australia's Alex de Minaur, and securing a place in the fourth round. The match began ominously for Norrie. He trailed 5‑7, 2‑5 and even faced a match point against a confident de Minaur.
Rather than capitulating, Norrie rallied dramatically, winning eleven of the next thirteen games. He turned the tide to claim the final scoreline of 5‑7, 7‑6 (7‑5), 6‑1, a reversal that highlighted his trademark tenacity and mental resilience. With the win, Norrie vaulted past fellow Brit Arthur Fery to claim the No.
36 spot in the live ATP rankings, thereby becoming the new British No. 1. The former Wimbledon semi‑finalist, who has already added a Masters‑1000 title to his résumé, now sets his sights on a second Masters crown.
His next opponent will be the 18th‑seeded French teenager Arthur Fils, who arrived in Montreal having dispatched Mariano Navone in straight sets (6‑3, 6‑2) and maintaining an impressive record at Masters‑1000 events this season. When asked whether his recent performance elevated him into the group of favorites for the championship, Norrie answered with characteristic humility: "Everyone is so tough. I'm playing the next highest guy, Fils—he's one of the best players in the world when he's confident and playing well, but I'm just so happy. I've got some time to rest, I'm happy with my attitude.
I played every single point and that's what I came to do, and it was the icing on the cake to win the match." Norrie's victory was built on a solid foundation of opportunistic play. He converted eight of the thirteen break points he created, showcasing both his aggressive return game and his ability to seize momentum at crucial junctures.
The win also underscores his physical conditioning, as he managed to sustain a high level of intensity throughout a match that stretched to three sets and featured a tense tiebreak. De Minaur entered the tournament as the highest‑seeded player still standing on the hard‑court swing, but his early exit paves the way for other contenders.
The title now appears to be within reach of Ben Shelton, the fifth seed and defending champion, who will look to repeat his success in front of an enthusiastic Canadian crowd. The National Bank Open also delivered compelling storylines on the women's side.
Former Wimbledon and French Open semi‑finalist Iga Świątek dominated Viktorija Golubic in a brisk 66‑minute encounter, winning 6‑2, 6‑1 while conceding just three games. Świątek, a six‑time Grand Slam champion, struck 18 winners compared with Golubic's five and held serve with only 14 points lost. After the match, she reflected, "For sure it was a good day, and I'm really happy with the way I played.
Even though the first game wasn't super smooth, I knew I could start fresh, and then it went my way and I could find my rhythm." Świątek now advances to face Marta Kostyuk, the Ukrainian world No. 11, who leads their head‑to‑head this season after a straight‑sets win at the French Open. Their upcoming clash promises to be a tactical battle, with Kostyuk looking to exploit any lapses in Świątek's aggressive baseline play. World No.
1 Aryna Sabalenka also cruised through her second‑round match, dispatching China's Zhang Shuai in straight sets (6‑3, 6‑4) within 76 minutes. The reigning US Open champion displayed her powerful serve and relentless groundstrokes, reinforcing her status as a favorite for the title. Sabalenka's next challenge will be against Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova, who earned her spot with a straight‑sets victory over Australia's Talia Gibson. Overall, the Montreal tournament has already produced a mixture of surprise upsets and dominant performances, setting the stage for an exciting second week.
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 for subscribers. As the competition progresses, Cameron Norrie's resurgence will be a focal point. His ability to overturn a match‑point deficit against a top‑seed demonstrates not only technical skill but also the psychological fortitude required to succeed at the highest level.
Whether he can maintain this momentum against the young French prodigy Arthur Fils, and potentially navigate a draw that still features seasoned veterans and emerging talents, remains to be seen. One thing is clear: Norrie's performance in Montreal has reignited discussions about his place among the sport's elite and has given British tennis supporters a renewed sense of optimism.