Joao Fonseca is back after a month off and beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 76 75 at Montreal 1000, failing to serve out the win at 54 in the second, the 19 year old hung in there and finished the job. Interesting Fonseca referred to himself in the third person in his match analysis: “I think Joao from last year would’ve lost his mind,” Fonseca said in his on-court interview. “I’m a more mature Joao [now]. It’s been a couple weeks without playing, so I knew, serving for the match, I would be a little bit more tense. I felt good, played some good returns, and then put the pressure on him. I think I needed that break at 5-5.”
Tsitsipas praised the Shelton’s parent/coach structure: “When I look at Shelton’s dad, I tell myself that he perfectly embodies the way a father should behave with a son who plays at a high level of tennis”
Juncheng Shang saved five match points to defeat Andrey Rublev 76 in the third. “Out of ten matches like that I win nine,” said Rublev after.
Terence Atmane trounced Jack Draper 63 26 62. Draper’s left arm endured the three sets in his first match since Eastbourne.
Kei Nishikori lost in qualies to Michael Zheng 63 61.
The Ontario Government will invest $500,000 to support the 2026 National Bank Open in Toronto, helping to elevate into one of one of the world’s premier women’s sporting events.
Lanlana Tararudee of Thailand, beat Qinwen Zhang of China in qualies and did media interviews but withdrew from the main draw first round matchup vs Amanda Anisimova. The rising star who won a 125 this year said her favorite player as a kid was Maria Sharapova.
Alexandra Ealamania is growing in Toronto. After Wednesday’s 2R sold out four days early, the tournament is asking volunteers who already have tickets to return any unused ones in exchange for upgraded seats at another session. NBO doesn’t want a single seat going to waste. Eala is playing Toronto for the first time. “I know there’s a huge Filipino community there (Toronto) and I can’t wait to play front of you all and I hope to see soon. I’m super excited to play the National Bank Open.”
Wildcard Bianca Andreescu was up 5-2 40-love in the first set of 1R qualies vs Bartunkova but lost the match in straight sets.
Leylah Fermandez will play Toronto doubles with sister Bianca who plays for UCLA.
Ben Shelton won his seventh match in a row in Canada when he beat Jenson Brooskby today 63 75. Shelton won Toronto 1000 last year and now hopes to repeat in Montreal.
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