
Taylor Fritz Quashes Canadian Hopes, Advances To ATP Toronto Masters Round Four
Fritz defeated Gabriel Diallo 6-4, 6-2 to make progress at the ATP Toronto Masters. Ben Shelton got the better of Brandon Nakashima, while Rublev and Tiafoe also advanced.
Taylor Fritz dashed Canadian hopes at the ATP Toronto Masters on Friday by decisively defeating Gabriel Diallo 6-4, 6-2, thus advancing to the fourth round. The American second seed took just 77 minutes to overcome the 37th-ranked local player and secure a clash with Jiri Lehecka, who triumphed 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 over France's Arthur Fils.
Fritz aims to reach at least the quarter-finals in this tournament, as it remains the only Masters event where he hasn't reached that stage. He broke Diallo's serve once in the opening set and maintained control thereafter.
'It was important not to let him get into the match and get the crowd fired up," Fritz said. 'I knew the momentum could shift at any time. I'm super happy with it, considering how I felt on the court two nights ago in my first match.
I felt way more comfortable, confident, just hitting the ball, being aggressive, just striking it. I did well to be up an early break in the sets. I did well to just hold. Played really solid from the baseline as well. I backed it up well from the ground, and just did a good job of not letting him back in the sets."
In another match, Brandon Nakashima won his first set against American Ben Shelton before the fourth-seeded Shelton rallied to clinch a 6-7 (8/10), 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) victory. Shelton had trailed by a break in the deciding set, and Nakashima saved four match points before Shelton sealed the win with his 19th ace. Shelton finished with 46 winners, improving to 5-0 against Nakashima, and will now compete for a quarter-final spot against Flavio Cobolli, who overcame Fabian Marozsan 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
'I've got to find my fire from somewhere," Shelton said of the late-night crowd support in Canada. 'I live off of that. Night matches are never easy, the temperature cools down and conditions are different. I showed a lot of perseverance. It's difficult being down against a big server. To come from behind takes a bit of luck."
Seeds Progress
The seeded duo of Andrey Rublev and Frances Tiafoe faced tough three-set matches before progressing to the fourth round. Sixth seed Rublev, last year's runner-up in Canada to Alexei Popyrin, advanced 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 as Lorenzo Sonego double-faulted on match point.
Tiafoe, the number seven seed, admitted to having a challenging day but secured his hard-fought win against Australian Aleksandar Vukic 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. 'The ball was flying a lot, it was really ugly, but I'm happy to get through it," Tiafoe said. 'It doesn't matter how you win. You just have to compete."
Tiafoe will next face another Australian, Alex de Minaur, who progressed when compatriot Christopher O'Connell withdrew due to injury. Rublev is set to play against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who previously defeated him on clay in Barcelona this season. Davidovich Fokina defeated Jakob Mensik 6-2, 6-4.
'I'm really happy, it's my first time in the round of 16 here in Toronto," Rublev said, noting that he had to adjust his serve in windy conditions to stage his comeback. 'I played more aggressively in the second set and made fewer mistakes. I was doing more with my serve. I had to slow it wide in the wind."
view comments
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
Connor McDavid's wife Lauren Kyle gushes over Leon Draisaitl's bride-to-be Celeste Desjardins during French pre-wedding celebrations
Lauren Kyle shares dreamy moments from Leon Draisaitl's French pre-wedding (Image via: Getty Images) Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl and Canadian actress Celeste Desjardins are celebrating their love in France ahead of their wedding this weekend. The couple's pre-wedding festivities have captured fans' attention, thanks to Connor McDavid's wife, Lauren Kyle, who shared stunning Instagram stories from the event. From emotional moments to glamorous details, the celebrations are giving fans a fairytale glimpse into the couple's big day. Lauren Kyle gives fans an inside look at Leon Draisaitl and Celeste Desjardins' pre-wedding celebrations The pre-wedding celebrations of Leon Draisaitl and Celeste Desjardins have brought a romantic charm to France. Lauren Kyle, wife of NHL star Connor McDavid, shared heartfelt moments on Instagram, starting with a striking portrait of Celeste. The bride-to-be glowed in an elegant ivory gown with sheer draping, paired with a soft updo, delicate necklace, and small white handbag. Lauren captioned the story, 'She is out of this world. Can't stop crying,' capturing the emotional mood. Lauren Kyle moved by Celeste Desjardins' beauty (via: Instagram) Lauren also gave fans a closer look at the venue and guests. She appeared in a lilac gown with a side knot, snapping a mirror selfie inside the vintage French estate. Later, she posted a picture with McDavid, who looked dapper in a tailored blue suit and sunglasses, as the couple posed against an ivy-covered backdrop that oozed European charm. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Beyond Text Generation: An AI Tool That Helps You Write Better Grammarly Install Now Undo Lavender cocktails and string lights set the scene for Draisaitl and Desjardins' intimate French pre-wedding dinner The Instagram stories highlighted more than just fashion. A floral-inspired cocktail station caught attention, complete with lavender-garnished drinks and a sleek white bar accented with gold tools. As night fell, guests gathered beneath a pergola draped with string lights and greenery, creating a warm and intimate atmosphere for the pre-wedding dinner. Also Read: Connor McDavid turns water baby as wife Lauren shares candid poolside snap ahead of Leon Draisaitl and Celeste Desjardins' wedding With Leon Draisaitl and Celeste Desjardins' wedding set to unfold, fans are eagerly awaiting more exclusive glimpses from this picturesque celebration. Between the scenic French backdrop, Lauren Kyle's candid updates, and the star-studded guest list, the couple's nuptials are shaping up to be one of the most glamorous NHL weddings of the year. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!


Mint
35 minutes ago
- Mint
Swimming-Backstroke queen McKeown pulls off another double
(Reuters) -World record holder Kaylee McKeown underlined her status as the undisputed queen of backstroke swimming as she added the 200 meters gold to her triumph in the 100 at the world championships in Singapore on Saturday. Once again it was American Regan Smith looking to take down McKeown, only to be reeled in on the last lap as the Australian dominator clocked 2:03.33, the third fastest swim of all time. It was nearly a second better than Smith (2:04.29), who had taken silver behind McKeown in the 100 and 200 at the Paris Olympics and was runner-up to her again in the 100 in Singapore. Just like in Paris, McKeown's win came straight after compatriot Cameron McEvoy stormed to his second 50 freestyle title in 21.14 seconds, becoming the oldest Australian swimming world champion at the age of 31. Fastest off the blocks, McEvoy once again denied Ben Proud (21.26) gold, having beaten the Briton to the Olympic title by a fingertip in Paris exactly a year ago. A new dad since Paris, McEvoy thanked his wife Maddi and gave a shout-out to his baby boy Hartley. "It's a very different life," he said. "I've got to navigate it, I'll figure it out. But it's cool to have that at home and still be here doing what I love." Gretchen Walsh kept the U.S. team medal haul ticking upwards with a dominant victory in the 50 butterfly, adding to her 100 title in Singapore. Touching the wall in 24.83 seconds, Walsh was nearly half a second better than runner-up Alex Perkins, who set an Australian record of 25.31. (Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford)


India Today
35 minutes ago
- India Today
Chris Woakes likely to miss Ashes tour after dislocating shoulder: Report
Chris Woakes is reportedly expected to be out of the race for England's tour of Australia for the upcoming Ashes series after suffering a serious shoulder injury during the fifth Test against India at The ENG vs IND, 5th Test Day 3 Live UpdatesThe injury occurred late on Day 1 as Woakes attempted to prevent a boundary. With around thirty minutes left in the day's play and damp outfield conditions caused by persistent overcast weather, the England all-rounder slipped and fell awkwardly near the boundary rope, dislocating his left According to a report by The Telegraph, scans have confirmed that the injury is serious, and surgery is being considered as a likely outcome. However, further assessments are still needed to determine the full extent of the damage and the time required for the physical demands on fast bowlers, especially in the longest format, Woakes could face an extended period on the sidelines. Shoulder injuries have proven difficult to recover from in the past. Ollie Pope, for instance, has had multiple shoulder setbacks and typically required around four months of rehabilitation before returning to top-level cricket. A similar recovery timeline may apply to Woakes, particularly if surgery is potential absence may not be a major setback for England in Australian conditions, where he has struggled historically. However, his injury does affect England's squad depth and good news for England is that their pace attack still looks formidable. Jofra Archer is expected to be back in the mix, while Gus Atkinson has impressed in recent outings. Mark Wood is also due for a return and could provide much-needed pace on Australian England may turn to younger options like Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue, both of whom have had opportunities during the ongoing series against India. These players will be vital in offering depth and variety to England's fast bowling unit as they prepare for the now, England will be focused on wrapping up the Test series against India. Once that is done, all attention will shift to planning for the Ashes as the team looks to reclaim the urn, a feat they have not achieved in over a decade.- EndsMust Watch