Fernandez cruises into 3rd round of National Bank Open, Raonic also advances
Fellow Canadian Diallo ousted after straight sets defeat to Australia's de Minaur
It took just under three hours for Leylah Fernandez to qualify for the round of 16 in front of her hometown crowd after beating Beatriz Haddad Maia 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 at IGA Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Fernandez will now face of Danielle Collins in the round of 16.
"I was able to get to a point today where I was feeling more in control, and that's what we want so I was able to execute the game plan," said Fernandez. "I think the adrenalin plays a big part of it. I know the work that I've been putting in during training and fitness sessions. When we hit the two-hour mark I thought `I can play one more hour."'
Haddad Maia, the 11th seed in the tournament, started the match on the front foot, using her power to push Fernandez back and breaking her serve after a series of unforced errors in the first game.
As Fernandez regained her composure, Haddad Maia's double fault on break point brought the score level.
Fernandez then extended her advantage during the first set, making several impressive shots along the sideline, breaking Haddad Maia's serve for the second time in a row.
WATCH l Fernandez tops 11th seed Haddad Maia of Brazil:
After being broken herself for the second time as the score returned to equal footing, Fernandez continued utilizing her speed and accuracy to her advantage. She would break Haddad Maia and go on to win the set as the crowd exploded with cheers.
"Playing on Stadium Court and it was practically a night match so I got to experience the fans cheering me on and I was just so happy I got to play in Montreal," said Fernandez
The Brazilian was quick to reply with a break of her own, forcing multiple errors from Fernandez and winning the ensuing game tie the set at three games apiece.
As the second set wound down and the two continued to trace service games, Fernandez found herself on the verge of breaking Haddad Maia and at match point. However, the latter survived and then went on to win a crucial break herself, forcing a third and decisive set.
"When I lost that match point, I was beating myself up and then I lost the second set I thought 'it's going to be hard so let's fight,"' said Fernandez. "At the end of the day I was just trying to enjoy the moment."
As the set rolled along and both players traded serves, Fernandez was the first to take and advantage and broke Haddad Maia, setting up a potential match-winning set. Once there, she made no mistake and closed out the match.
Raonic advances
Milos Raonic did not expect to perform as well as he did Wednesday.
Raonic used his strong serve to power through to a 6-4, 6-3 second-round win over Japan's Taro Daniel in Toronto. The Thornhill, Ont., native had 15 aces to just two double faults and broke on two of his seven opportunities.
"There was obviously some points of frustration today," he said. "A few break points I didn't necessarily play well, maybe some opportunities I felt get away which when I had opportunities in my last match, I was probably a bit more sharp.
"I just kind of kept plugging away and giving myself those chances. To be honest with you, after playing well in the first round, having not played many matches back to back in a very long time, I really didn't expect to play that well today.
"I know that that's one of the more difficult things, is that picking stuff up and carrying it from one day to the next and having that continuity. I think I can play better tomorrow so hopefully I can build off that."
WATCH | Raonic tops Daniel:
Daniel, 30, had three aces to two double faults and went without a break point opportunity throughout the one hour 30-minute match.
The 32-year-old Raonic will next face American Mackenzie McDonald — who defeated sixth-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-3 on Wednesday — in third-round play on Thursday.
Raonic entered Wednesday's match having defeated ninth-seeded American Frances Tiafoe on Monday in his first appearance at the NBO since 2019 and first in Toronto since 2018.
Raonic had played only four matches prior to the NBO tournament after his comeback to the ATP Tour in June. The former world No. 3 had been sidelined since July 2021 due to an Achilles tendon issue and toe injuries.
"It's good," he said when asked how happy he was with his recovery from Monday's match. "That match was difficult, physically [and] emotionally on Monday.
Raonic feels he's in the ballpark of his top level prior to the injuries.
"I don't think it's really that far off," he said.
The opening set was a back-and-forth affair, with Raonic finding most of his success on serve.
The Canadian fired two aces en route to winning the first game, and along with some forehand winners, hit two more aces to earn him a 2-1 edge to the delight of the Sobeys Stadium crowd.
Daniel capitalized with some cross-court winners and some of Raonic's mistakes to continuously even the score while on serve.
It wasn't until the 10th game where either player won a game on return. With a 5-4 lead in hand and in deuce, Raonic won the set thanks to consecutive errors from Daniel.
Raonic had eight aces in the opening set, the last of them coming in the ninth game.
In the second set, Raonic jumped out to a 3-0 advantage, taking the last point by forcing Daniel to sprint cross court and return his forehand shot wide.
Raonic extended his lead to 4-1, continuing to challenge Daniel with his serve. Raonic forced a wide return on his serve to make it 40-0 before sealing the game with his 10th ace.
After dropping the next game to Daniel behind multiple errors, the crowd again rallied behind Raonic with a standing ovation.
Serving on match point, Raonic sealed it with his 15th ace of the match, bringing the Toronto crowd to its feet.
"Getting that kind of energy, that kind of response, it makes a difference," Raonic said.
Diallo out, top-ranked Alcaraz into 3rd round
World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz joined Raonic in the winner's circle Wednesday with a solid performance of his own.
Alcaraz earned himself a 6-3, 7-6 (3) win over American Ben Shelton in front of a near-packed house at Sobeys Stadium. The 20-year-old Spaniard entered Wednesday's match having received a bye into the second round.
Alacaraz last competed at Wimbledon, where he defeated world No. 2 Novak Djokovic for his second career Grand Slam title on July 16.
Alcaraz was also shown plenty of love, with numerous chants of "Vamos [let's go] Carlitos" and standing ovations.
In other men's singles action, Canada's Gabriel Diallo lost 6-4, 7-5 to Australia's Alex de Minaur Wednesday afternoon.
WATCH l Montreal's Diallo loses in 2nd round action:
The 21-year-old Montreal native won his first ATP Tour level match on Tuesday against Britain's Dan Evans to advance into the second round.
Eighth-seeded American Taylor Fritz outlasted France's Ugo Humbert 7-6 (7), 3-6, 6-3 and France's Gael Monfils upset fourth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece 6-4. 6-3.
Andy Murray, the 2009, 2010 and 2015 champion, advanced with a 7-6 (2), 3-6. 7-5 victory over Max Purcell and second-seeded Daniil Medvedev of Russia moved past Italy's Matteo Arnaldi 6-2, 7-5.
Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo downed American Tommy Paul 6-7, 7-6, 6-3 and Aleksandar Vukic defeated Sebastian Korda 6-3, 4-6, 7-6.
Swiatek, Vondrousova move on in Montreal
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek overcame a first set-scare from Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic to win 7-6 (6), 6-2.
"Well, for sure it's nice to have some challenges and overcome them," said Swiatek, coming off a victory last week at home in the Poland Open. "It wasn't an easy first round, but I'm happy that I stayed solid."
Swiatek — coming off a dominant victory in the Poland Open last week — improved her career record against Pliskova to 3-0. The Pole will face the winner of the match between Sorana Cirstea and Karolina Muchova in the next round.
"We have to be ready for the next match and kind of expect that anything can happen because tennis can be pretty unpredictable," Swiatek said. "You know, one player can have a bad day. At the same time the other one can play the best tennis of their life."
First Montreal dub feeling 💪 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBO23?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBO23</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/iga_swiatek?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@iga_swiatek</a> <a href="https://t.co/FWsdadXdUr">pic.twitter.com/FWsdadXdUr</a>
—@OBNmontrealWimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, seeded ninth, beat Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 7-5. Wozniacki, a former No. 1 player, was playing her first WTA Tour event in 3 1/2 years.
No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus beat Petra Martić of Croatia 6-3, 7-6.
Third-seeded Elena Rybakina outlasted Jennifer Brady 6-7(3), 7-6(5), 6-3 in a match that was suspended Tuesday night because of rain.
Fourth-seeded Jessica Pegula topped Yulia Putintseva 6-4, 6-4, and 10th-seeded Daria Kasatkina edged Anna Blinkova 6-2, 7-5.
With files from CBC Sports and The Associated Press
