Montreal is proving a happy hunting ground for match point-saving warriors with fourth seed Alexander Zverev the lastest to battle back from the brink. The #NextGenATP star saved three match points – including one 49-shot rally – to hold off Richard Gasquet at the Coupe Rogers on Wednesday. His 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(3) triumph over the Frenchman sets a blockbuster showdown with the player most tipped to rival him as a future World No.1, Nick Kyrgios. The 16th-seeded Australian earlier powered past Italian Paolo Lorenzi 6-2 ,6-3. Gasquet arrived in Montreal having missed the first five ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events due to appendicitis surgery and lower back issues. But against Zverev, he produced the type of form that had...
Rafael Nadal’s bid to regain top spot in the Emirates ATP Rankings is off on the right foot with the Spaniard easily accounting for #NextGenATP Croatian Borna Coric at the Coupe Rogers on Wednesday. Nadal had fallen in two of the pair’s three prior FedExATP Head2Head meetings but was barely troubled in a 6-1, 6-2 result in Montreal. Coric had claimed the pair’s most recent encounter, also on North American hard courts, at the Western & Southern Open last season. Despite the one-sided scoreline on Wednesday, Nadal admitted that defeat was never far from his mind. “Never too easy,” Nadal said. “At the beginning of the match there were great points. I think I started playing so well in the...
Canadian wild card Denis Shapovalov recorded one of the biggest wins of his fledgling career on Wednesday at the Coupe Rogers. The 18-year-old #NextGenATP knocked out former World No. 4 Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 7-6(4) to become the youngest player in the last 16 of an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament since Rafael Nadal, 17, at the 2004 Miami Open presented by Itau. "He's my idol," Shapovalov said of Del Potro. "First of all, just to play against him, it's a huge honour for me. But to beat a player of this category, of this talent, it's very inspiring and a huge confidence boost... It's got to be one of my best wins. Has to be. "He's got...
Gael Monfils produced a mesmerising moment of magic in storming back to upset Kei Nishikori at the Coupe Rogers on Wednesday. Monfils saved four match points - including two with clutch, spectacular hot shots - in a deciding set tie-break, rallying for a stunning 6-7(4), 7-5, 7-6(6) victory. It marked the first time Monfils had come from a set down against a Top 10 opponent in seven years and just the third time in his career (3-62). A semi-finalist last year in Toronto, he improved to 13-7 overall at the Canadian ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event. Monfils was a hot shot machine with his back against the wall on a sunny Wednesday afternoon, energising the Montreal faithful with forehand...
How many cakes did you receive on your last birthday? One? Maybe two? When you're Roger Federer, birthday parties never end. Federer admitted he received five cakes prior to taking in a Coldplay concert at Montreal's Bell Centre, where lead singer Chris Martin gave him a birthday shout out. The Swiss superstar reflected on a memorable 36th birthday after securing his place in the Coupe Rogers third round on Wednesday afternoon with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Peter Polansky. “The thing is that they are big cakes, and you have to eat them during the week,” said Federer, smiling. “It's good I'm doing some sport this week. “It was quite a calm day yesterday. I spent my day with my...
