Top seeds crash out of Montreal, as Medvedev falls to Kyrgios and Alcaraz upset by Paul

It was a bad day to be one of the top seeds at the Montreal Masters. Defending champion and world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev was dismissed by Nick Kyrgios, while Carlos Alcaraz suffered a surprise loss to Tommy Paul.

Nick Kyrgios d. (1) Daniil Medvedev 7-6(1), 6-4, 6-2

Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios is still in the zone. He has won eight straight matches on the trot thanks to his successful run to the title in Washington last week. And before that he lost to Novak Djokovic in the final of Wimbledon. It would not be an exaggeration to call Kyrgios the in-form player of the moment–all of this to Daniil Medvedev’s detriment.

Medvedev was the defending Canadian Open champion. That he was unlucky enough to run into Kyrgios right away cost him the chance to defend at least some of his ranking points. The top-seeded Russian was able to snag the first set in a lop-sided tiebreaker, but Kyrgios came roaring back early in the second set. He got an early break and served well enough to lock down Medvedev’s return.

It was more of the same in the third set. Kyrgios put his foot on the gas and Medvedev was broken for a second time at 4-2.

The Grandstand asked Medvedev if a meeting with Kyrgios deeper in the tournament–after getting used to the court and conditions–might have made a difference in the match. “I think it’s possible,” he mused. “I remember my first match in Los Cabos…and it was the same. I was missing a few shots; I was a little bit rusty…. I had to be better to beat him [Kyrgios] today.”

Kyrgios will go up against countryman Alex de Minaur in the round of 16 on Thursday.

Tommy Paul d. (2) Carlos Alcaraz 6-7(4), 7-6(7), 6-3

American Tommy Paul pulled off the upset of the tournament so far with an epic three-set victory over No. 2 seed Carlos Alcaraz. The two players went toe-to-toe for three hours and 20 minutes, and for the first two sets there wasn’t a sheet of paper between them.

Alcaraz took the first set in a tense tiebreaker before Paul held his nerve and fought off match point on Alcaraz’s serve in the second-set ‘breaker to level things at a set apiece. The Spaniard didn’t immediately wilt in the third set. He earned a couple of break point opportunities in Paul’s first service game, but as he did all match Paul gritted his teeth and fought through.

From there the Spaniard did deflate. Paul snagged the break of serve at 2-1 and held onto the lead. The American had four match points on Alcaraz’s serve at 5-2, which he didn’t convert, but the missed opportunities didn’t derail Paul–who picked up one of his biggest wins of the season so far.

In his presser Alcaraz admitted that he was having some difficulty with being the No. 2 seed at a prestigious event. “I couldn’t handle the pressure,” he admitted honestly.

Paul will take on Marin Cilic in the round of 16.