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TORONTO/WASHINGTON, August 12, 2021 (by Michael Dickens)
The final time there’s been a Canadian Open – now often called the Nationwide Financial institution Open Offered by Rogers – and not using a member of the Large Three of males’s tennis, one must go all the best way again to 2001. This 12 months, with no Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer – all sidelined with quite a lot of maladies – the highlight shifts to different contenders comparable to present World No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Stef steps up 💪
2018 Toronto runner-up @steftsitsipas earns his first win over Ugo Humbert, 6-3 6-7(13), 6-1 changing match level #7 to achieve the spherical of 16. #NBO21 pic.twitter.com/pkIc9eaS5P
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 11, 2021
The rising Greek star, who’s seeded third at this week’s ATP Tour Masters 1000 occasion in Toronto, recovered from shedding a marathon, 22-minute second-set tie break that stretched to twenty-eight factors to beat No. 27 Ugo Humbert of France, 6-3, 6-7 (13), 6-1, throughout Tuesday night’s featured Stadium Courtroom match at Aviva Centre. The win superior Tsitsipas to Thursday’s third spherical towards No. 28 Karen Khachanov of Russia, who beat No. 15 seed Aslan Karatsev, 7-6 (7), 6-4, Wednesday afternoon. The victory was his ATP Tour-leading forty third victory of the season and it avenged his current loss to Humbert on the Tokyo Olympics.
“It’s all in regards to the preventing spirit,” Tsitsipas stated throughout an on-court interview after his victory. “I’m somebody who doesn’t like to surrender. … It wasn’t straightforward on the market as we speak. I needed to do rather a lot. I put lots of effort into stepping it up and to be my beset as we speak.”
TENNIS: 🇬🇷 Stefanos Tsitsipas defeats 🇫🇷 Ugo Humbert in an exhilarating three-setter 6-3, 6-7 (13), 6-1 at @NBOToronto.
The previous Nationwide Financial institution Open finalist is off to the third spherical.
So superior seeing the Greek flags at Aviva Centre supporting Tsitsipas.#NBO21 #ATPToronto pic.twitter.com/VeYL9libku
— Lukas Weese (@Weesesports) August 11, 2021
Throughout his press convention after beating Humbert, Tsitsipas was requested if it was unusual to not see at the very least one of many three residing legends of males’s tennis within the draw. He replied:
“I don’t actually take into consideration that. It’s what it’s. I imply, in the event that they really feel match and so they aren’t able to play, it’s as much as them to resolve.
“Clearly, let’s settle for it, as a result of it’s a truth, it’s true. They create lots of followers to the courts, and they’re additionally the explanation why individuals come and watche these massive occasions. Additionally, they’re a giant a part of, you already know, tennis being the place it’s now.
“So, I believe there’s room for brand spanking new stars. You realize, it’s been rather a lot about them in recent times, and I believe now it’s present that, you already know, issues are altering. Issues are type of – we see type of totally different technology of gamers stepping up and exhibiting what they’re able to.
“So, it’s attention-grabbing to have this sort of variation and alter of thrones, let’s name it. It’s attention-grabbing for our sport.
“We, ourselves, now we have generated our personal crew of individuals and followers that help us, give us love, and are there for us in every single match following us. We wish to do nearly as good as they’ve achieved to date.
“We clearly have lots of respect, and that’s not solely coming from me but additionally from, I’m fairly positive, from different youthful gamers in that class. We do have lots of respect We grew up watching them and I believe we’re thrilled to be competing towards them and towards them now in this sort of time frame.”
Olympics revenge. 💪
🇬🇷 @steftsitsipas converts a seventh match level to beat Ugo Humbert 6-3, 6-7, 6-1 in Toronto! #NBO21 pic.twitter.com/fQ4VVJf1JP
— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 11, 2021
• In the meantime, Wednesday’s seeded winners transferring into the third spherical included: No. 4 Andrey Rublev of Russia, No. 7 Hubert Hurkacz of Poland, No. 8 Diego Schwartzman of Argentina, No. 10 Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain and No. 11 Gaël Monfils of France. Nevertheless, there have been upsets – none larger than a pair involving Canadians. No. 5 seed Denis Shapovalov fell to American fortunate loser Frances Tiafoe, 6-1, 6-4, and No. 9 Felix Auger-Aliassime misplaced to Dusan Lajovic of Serbia, 7-5, 6-4. No. 12 Alex de Minaur of Australia and No. 16 Jannik Sinner of Italy, simply three days after successful the Citi Open, additionally misplaced.
Not the homecoming outcome that Shapovalov would have hoped for, however a flawless efficiency from @FTiafoe seals it for the American.
Tiafoe prevails 6-1, 6-4 and is thru to the third spherical of #NBO21! pic.twitter.com/yw72x03l5R
— Nationwide Financial institution Open (@NBOtoronto) August 12, 2021
Nadal, Raonic newest to withdraw from Cincinnati
A day after he withdrew from the Nationwide Financial institution Open in Toronto, World No. 4 Rafael Nadal pulled out of subsequent week’s Western & Southern Open in Mason, Ohio close to Cincinnati as a result of his ongoing left foot damage, the match introduced on Wednesday.
Nadal’s damage was first recognized after Roland Garros and he took 20 days off earlier than returning to motion finally week’s Citi Open in Washington, D.C., where he beat Jack Sock, then misplaced within the third spherical to Lloyd Harris. Nadal got here in Toronto able to compete till the lingering damage compelled him to withdraw from the Nationwide Financial institution Open, an ATP Tour Masters 1000 match, on Tuesday.
Now, Nadal’s standing for the US Open, which begins on August 30, is doubtful.
In the meantime, Canada’s Milos Raonic additionally withdrew from Cincinnati as a result of a heel damage. He was a finalist in final 12 months’s match, which was held in New York because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Match replace:
We’re wishing speedy recoveries to Rafael Nadal and Milos Raonic, each of whom have withdrawn with accidents.
📰: https://t.co/lhMXHz5xFR pic.twitter.com/cLRZTMm09e
— Western & Southern Open (@CincyTennis) August 11, 2021
Serena and Venus Williams, Kenin will miss Western & Southern Open
On Tuesday night, a trio of American stars – World No. 4 Sofia Kenin, World No. 20 Serena Williams and her older sister Venus, now ranked No. 112, all withdrew from subsequent week’s Western & Southern Open.
Serena Williams cited a leg damage that goes again to Wimbledon, whereas Kenin pulled out due to an ongoing damage to her foot. Venus Williams’s withdrawal purpose was not disclosed.
The three are the lastest high-profile stars to drag out of the Western & Southern Open, becoming a member of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.
Andreescu desirous to placed on good present in Canada
Till Tuesday night, when she defeating 172nd-ranked British qualifier Harriet Dart, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, Canadian Bianca Andreescu had not received a WTA tour match since June on grass in Eastbourne. Following a first-round loss at Wimbledon, Andreescu dropped off the tour and went house – and adjusted coaches. She parted methods with Sylvain Bruneau, who coached her to her solely main title on the 2019 US Open, and linked with Sven Groeneveld, whose earlier shoppers embody Maria Sharapova.
🗣️ Let her hear it Canada!
🇨🇦 @Bandreescu_ battles previous Dart in entrance of a supportive crowd for a spot in spherical 3!#OBN21 pic.twitter.com/NVv8n7FPTR
— wta (@WTA) August 11, 2021
A cheerful homecoming in Montreal was simply what Andreescu wanted. The defending champion on the Omnium Banque Nationale had the backing of the 5,000-strong Montreal crowd at IGA Stadium all through her two hour and two minute tussle, during which she hit 35 winners and dedicated 35 unforced errors. Whereas most of her previous success on this match has are available years when it’s held in Toronto, the native of Mississauga, Ontario, made her Montreal debut in 2016 when she a 16-year-old qualifying wild card ranked 610th. Andreescu is now ranked No. 8 on the earth.
The Quote of the Day by @mapleleaf ⬇️@Bandreescu_ pleased to reconnect with the Canadian crowd.#OBN21 pic.twitter.com/ltcsnOD9Lc
— Omnium Banque Nationale (@OBNmontreal) August 11, 2021
“I had all of the feels. It was tremendous emotional on the finish. I acquired goosebumps strolling on the court docket,” Andreescu stated in press after reaching the third spherical along with her win over Dart.
“Having the group cheer so lengthy, it’s only a loopy feeling. I’m so pleased the match was in a position to be performed.
“There’s all the time going to be strain, however I actually use it to my benefit, particularly right here at house. Having that crowd help actually helps me. Win or lose, I do know they’re all the time going to have my again, in order that positively relieves lots of strain.”
In Thursday’s third spherical, Andreescu will meet No. 13 seed Ons Jabeur of Tunisia, who got here again towards San Jose finalist Daria Kasatkina of Russia to drag out a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory.
• In the meantime, one other Canadian, Rebecca Marino is drawing consideration for all the precise causes. The 220th-ranked Toronto native, who reached a career-high No. 38 in 2011 earlier than retiring in 2012 as a result of despair, is enjoying her first Montreal most important attract a decade as a wild card entrant. On Wednesday afternoon on Centre Courtroom, Marino defeated No. 31 Paula Badosa of Spain, 1-6, 7-5, 6-4, closing along with her ninth ace and forty first winner, to advance to Thursday’s third spherical towards No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, who rallied to defeat 62nd-ranked American wild card Sloane Stephens, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-4. On Monday night, Marino beat No. 16 seed Madison Keys of the USA.
Montreal Magic 🪄
World No.220 @beccamarino90 follows up her Keys upset with a stellar 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 takedown of Badosa to achieve a primary R3 in Canada.#OBN21 pic.twitter.com/n7cMn2D3Sr
— Omnium Banque Nationale (@OBNmontreal) August 11, 2021
Additionally, it was a day for seeded upsets. No. 3 seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine misplaced to No. 41 Johanna Konta of Nice Britain, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. No. 10 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia fell to No. 30 Jessica Pegula of the USA, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2; and No. 6 seed Simona Halep of Romania, in her first match since retiring in Rome again in Might, was defeated by American Danielle Collins, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. The Twenty eighth-ranked Collins has strung collectively 12 straight victories and earned back-to-back titles at Palermo and San Jose. Among the many seeded winners advancing to Thursday’s third spherical have been: No. 4 Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic, No. 11 Maria Sakkari of Greece and No. 15 Coco Gauff of the USA.
Star-studded day 🇺🇸
4 Individuals rack up wins on Day 3.
Quatre Américaines sont sorties victorieuses du jour 3.#OBN21 pic.twitter.com/iAOHAFr24f
— Omnium Banque Nationale (@OBNmontreal) August 12, 2021
Wednesday’s National Bank Open – Toronto men’s results
Wednesday’s National Bank Open – Montreal women’s results
Thursday’s National Bank Open – Toronto order of play
Thursday’s National Bank Open – Montreal order of play
By the numbers
American Reilly Opelka backed up his Monday night victory over mercurial Aussie Nick Kyrgios by defeating No. 14 seed Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, 6-3, 6-4, late Tuesday night. He fired 22 winners, together with 12 aces, and received 81 p.c ( 22 of 27) of his first-serve factors. The loss was Dimitrov’s third straight and leveled his 2021 season file at 12-12. He has not received back-to-back matches since April.
What they’re writing
The New Yorker’s Robin Wright writes about Rafael Nadal forward of the US Open because the tennis famous person struggles to make a comeback from yet one more damage in “Dazzling Washington, Nadal Wins Even As He Loses.”
Dazzling #Washington, @rafaelnadal wins even when he loses. My piece within the @newyorker on the grit and humanness of a sports activities hero. He makes you imagine willpower can defy age–and a nasty again, shaky knees or an injured foot. https://t.co/2mGy73CYZc
— Robin Wright (@wrightr) August 11, 2021
Tennis.com‘s Steve Tignor and Joel Drucker check out the “August Exodus” and what the absence of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Serena Williams means for summer season hard-court tennis.
Final 12 months, Canada’s tournaments have been cancelled, and Cincinnati relocated to New York Metropolis.
This 12 months, they’re again the place they belong—however with out the sport’s largest names.@joeldrucker and @SteveTignor focus on what all of it means: https://t.co/GS4u8yXahi
— TENNIS (@Tennis) August 11, 2021
“Quotable …”
“After these three months, I performed a really excessive stage. I’m very proud of the best way I performed. She was hitting very robust, and I used to be in a position to keep there and to return the balls, open the court docket in a great way.”
– World No. 13 Simona Halep, who misplaced to Danielle Collins, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, after enjoying her first match in three months, which lasted two hours and 55 minutes.
Welcome again to the court docket for the primary time since Might….@Simona_Halep 👏👏👏#OBN21 pic.twitter.com/ntEs01pkp3
— Omnium Banque Nationale (@OBNmontreal) August 11, 2021
What they’re sharing on social media
Marketa Vondrousova / My perpetually
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