ATP
Double blow in Montreal as Zverev, FAA exit
Alexander Zverev and local favourite Felix Auger-Aliassime both made early exits on Wednesday from the Montreal Masters, leaving the event scratching for interest.
With Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic non-starters, the loss of the top two seeds was not a welcome blow.
French open winner Zvererv, a month removed from his final against Sinner in London, was ambushed 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-4 by determined Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor.
Defeat by the No. 69 marked a poor start to the US Open run-up for Zverev.
FAA puled the plug a few hours earlier after a back injury sustained in training failed to heal.
“I started having pain Monday. It was quite sudden. I was training here for two weeks, and I had zero problems.
“The timing is tough for it to happen here. I was lucky to get an extra day to prepare, as I was ready to play Tuesday night.
“I thought that day by day things would get better, but I tried to go on court today. I basically couldn’t serve really. It was impossible for me to think about even competing.”
The world No. 4 drawcard threw event bosses into a panic.
“I’m not going to lie, we were hoping that Felix was going to win at least a few matches here in Montreal,” tournament director Valerie Tetreault said. “He’s definitely the player everybody was talking about, and people wanted to know when he was going to play.”
There was a win for holder and fifth seed Ben Shelton who erased a lae deficit to defeat US compatriot Jenson Brooksby 6-3, 7-5, winning six of the last seven games.
Shelton has won seven straight matches in Canada.
“Defending is tough, i had to get over pre-tournament nerves but I got my first straight-set win of the summer season. Jenson is a nightmare match-up for me, to win it is a huge positive,” the winner said.
Stefanos Tsitsipas lost to Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 to Joao Fonseca in the second round.
The 19-year-old Brazilian winner was competing for the first time in a month and quickly managed nine aces among his 31 winners.
“The younger Joao would have lost his mind,” the winner said. “But I’m more mature now. I knew it would be difficult for me after a few weeks of not playing.
“I just kept going, felt good. At 6-5 I was ready to serve for the match again. I’ve played all of the (ranking) top five, so I have the experience,” added the 19-year-old. “That has helped me use my mental strength.”
Fonseca next plays ninth seed Casper Ruud, who beat Juan Manuel Cerundolo, 6-1, 6-2.-
Main photo:- Tallon Griekspoor: upset Alexander Zverev – by ATPTour.com
Laver Cup debutant Lerner Tien showed he’s fast on the rebound as the American took inspiration from coach Andre Agassi to level the Laver cup score a 3-3 with a Saturday win in London over Flavio Cobolli.
Tien, at 20 a young gun on the Rest of the World side, defeated Italy’s Roland Garros finalist 6-3, 2-6, 10-7.
With Day 2 win counting two points each, the victory in 97 minutes put teammates Alex de Minaur and Taylor Fritz on level-pegging heading into their later singles tests against Europe.
World has won four of the previous five titles in the exhibition run by Roger Federer’s management group in honor of the Swiss icons tennis idol, Rod Laver..
Tien, who won the spring Geneva ATP title, said he has to make a major reset after losing the second set to Cobolli, fighting back to win the match tiebreak third set at the O2.
“I can reset pretty easily,” the No. 13 said. “In this format, the score does not matter so much. Everyone always had a chance.
“To put the second set behind me was pretty good.”
Tien dropped serve twice in the second set after winning the first. But his deciding set fightback made the difference for his side.
“I just went into lockdown, there are some moments where the ball if just there to go for it. It was still tough to get through.”
The youngster gave full credit to Agassi for his inspiration. “Andre has given me more knowledge than everyone combined. It’s good to have a voice like that on the sidelines encouraging you. It’s very helpful.”
Casper Ruud and Rafa Jodar combined to start and finish Friday’s opening stage of the Laver Cup as their victories sent Europe into a 2-1 lead over Rest of the World in London.
Norway’s Ruud began day 1 play with a 6-7 (4), 6-4, 10-8 defeat of Argentina Francisco Cerundolo while Spanish prodigy Jodar finished off the programme 6-2, 6-4 ovr Alexander Bublik in a winning debut at the team exhibition conceptualised by Roger Federer in 2017 to hour is tennis hero Rod Laver.
Jodar, who turned 20 only days ago, spent 84 minutes in adding a point for Europe coached by French legend Yannick Noah and earning his own 38th match win of this breakthrough season.
“It was a pleasure to represent Team Europe for the first time. I felt great on court. I played against a tough player… I think the atmosphere was great, so thank you everyone for coming” the winner said.
The unpredictable Bublik was unable to match it with the Spanish youngster ranked 14th
Jodar won eight of his final nine service points for the win. Jodar and Carlos Alcaraz combined for a one-two punch in the concluding doubles rubber, defeating Bublik and Taylor Fritz to end the day with a 3-1 European lead
Main photo:- Casper Ruud opens the scoring for Team Europe – ISF Ltd
Jannik Sinner on Friday announced another injury setback, with the world No. 1 withdrawing from the September start of the China Open in Beijing.
The Italian who has not played since defending his Wimbledon title in July, has been on the injury list ever since, missing the Masters events in Canada and Cincinnati and skipping the US Open.
Sinner won the Beijing event a year ago and could now be in doubt for the Shanghai Masters next month.
“Hello everyone, Jannik here,” Sinner posted on social media.
“I want to send the warmest greetings to the Chinese fans. I’m very sorry to announce that I won’t be able to play in Beijing this year.
“My knee is not there, where I would like [it] to be, and I am not ready to compete yet. But I will do everything possible to be there on court as soon as I can.
“What I miss the most is, of course, the tournament, the fans, and the atmosphere. I’ve had a great, great time in the past, winning the title also last year, and I’m very disappointed that I cannot defend it this year, but I’m very happy to come back next year.
“So I wish everyone a very good tournament and I’ll see you all very soon on court again.”
This season has been a roller coaster for the 24-year-old who won five Masters 1000 titles in a row in 2026: Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome.
Main Photo:- Jannik Sinner won Beijing trophy in 2023. – by ISF Ltd
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