For the first time in Masters 1000 history (since 1990), zero top-six players are in the round of 32. For the first time since Rome in 1991, zero top-five players are in the round of 32.
The National Bank Open in Montreal has already produced plenty of surprising results through just two rounds — plus it was already depleted before it even started.
Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic are resting at least until Cincinnati and maybe all the way to the U.S. Open. Carlos Alcaraz withdrew due to his wrist injury sustained during the clay-court swing. Felix Auger-Aliassime pulled out right before his opening match because of a back problem. Both Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev lost on Wednesday. Taylor Fritz and Flavio Cobolli also dropped their opening matches.
Zverev, seeded second thanks to Alcaraz’s absence, fell to Tallon Griekspoor 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-4.
“This is one of the most special [wins] I have had,” Griekspoor said during his on-court interview. “I have had a very tough season, which is not easy. I have been very close to throwing the towel a couple of times. But I have been working harder and harder lately and reached quite a good level in training in the past couple of weeks. I felt like it was just a matter of time. This one is special, especially against a player like Sascha.”
Fellow Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp ousted Medvedev 6-3, 7-6(5).
“I managed to mix it up quite well,” Van de Zandschulp assessed. “I played him a couple of times already, and it has always been tough. I never beat him before, but today I mixed it up very well…. I had to change it up, go out of my comfort zone, and I think I did it quite well.”
Alex de Minaur and Ben Shelton are the only top-10 players remaining in the draw.
nice one, Tallon
Alex is out now too. New remaining favs. are: Tiafoe, Fils, Jodar, Musetti, Lehecka, Shelton, Ruud, Fonseca, Mensik, Tien and Paul.
Who ya got?
Jodar, with confidence