On 7th match point, Alex Michelsen prevails in Toronto
Alex Michelsen pulled off a comeback for a notable upset in the third round of the National Bank Open at Toronto on Thursday, but getting to the finish was no easy feat.
The 26th-seeded U.S. player emerged with a 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 win over third-seeded Lorenzo Musetti of Italy, closing it out on his seventh match point.
Up 5-3 in the third set, Michelsen squandered two match points on Musetti's serve, then needed five more match points on his own serve (while turning aside two break points for Musetti) before finally ending the 2-hour, 32-minute contest.
The ending reflected a match in which Michelsen, 20, took advantage of just 2 of 9 break-point opportunities while Musetti, 23, was 2 of 12 on break-point chances.
Michelsen leaned on his groundstrokes for the win.
'I am a big guy, I have got to play offensive tennis,' he said. 'Especially today, you can't give a guy like Lorenzo time to bully you around from the baseline, so I was trying to bully him around and I think in the second and third sets I did a really good job. Taking shots early. I was missing a couple but you can't make them all and I was doing a really good job executing.'
Michelsen moves on to the fourth round of an ATP 1000 event for the first time. Next, he will meet fellow U.S. player Learner Tien, who beat countryman Reilly Opelka 7-6 (3), 6-3 on Thursday.
'The first time in the fourth round feels really good,' Michelsen said. 'I have put a lot of hard work in and it is finally starting to pay off a little bit. I was wondering when it would happen and I guess it is starting to happen right now.'
The day's other matches all saw the higher-seeded players come out on top.
No. 1 seed Alexander Zverev of Germany rallied for a 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2 win over No. 32 Matteo Arnaldi of Italy. No. 5 Holger Rune of Denmark downed No. 29 Alexandre Muller of France 6-2, 6-4, and No. 8 Casper Ruud of Norway beat No. 30 Nuno Borges of Portugal 7-5, 6-4.
No. 11 Karen Khachanov of Russia defeated the United States' Emilio Nava 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-1, and No. 14 Francisco Cerundolo won an all-Argentine matchup with Tomas Martin Etcheverry, 6-3, 6-4.
In the final match of the night, No. 10 Daniil Medvedev of Russia squared off with No. 18 Alexei Popyrin of Australia.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
Canadian teen Victoria Mboko advances to NBO semifinals in Montreal
Victoria Mboko of Canada waves to the crowd following her win over Coco Gauff of the United States during round of 16 tennis action at the National Bank Open in Montreal, Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi MONTREAL — Victoria Mboko keeps on rising. Two days after dispatching No. 1 seed Coco Gauff, the Canadian teenage sensation booked her place in the National Bank Open semifinals with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in women's singles action Monday night. Mboko upset Gauff in straight sets Saturday, winning the lopsided match in just 62 minutes. There was no letdown Monday, even if Mboko fought a little harder to pull out the victory. After taking a back-and-forth — and error-filled — first set, Mboko lost on serve in a sluggish start to the second set but broke back in the fourth and sixth games to take a 4-2 advantage. The 18-year-old from Toronto held serve and broke once more, with Bouzas Maneiro's backhand sailing long on match point to lift the fans out of their seats after 77 minutes. Mboko is the first Canadian to reach the WTA 1000 event's semifinals since Bianca Andreescu's title run in 2019. She's also the youngest woman to reach the semis since Belinda Bencic's 2015 win in Toronto. Bouzas Maneiro, ranked 51st, was also playing in the quarterfinals of a 1000-level tournament for the first time. In a breakthrough year, Mboko has surged from outside the top 300 to a career-high No. 85 in the world rankings. That number is projected to climb to at least No. 55, according to WTA live rankings. The last Canadian remaining in singles, Mboko has made a name for herself at home, her powerful ball-striking on full display in her first National Bank Open main draw. She will meet Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina in Wednesday's semifinals. The ninth-seeded Rybakina advanced after Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk was forced to retire with an apparent arm injury while trailing 6-1, 2-1 earlier Monday night. After two injury-plagued years, Mboko — who had shown promise as a junior — opened the season with a 22-match win streak and captured five titles on the lower-tier ITF Tour. She then qualified for her first Grand Slam main draw at the French Open, reaching the third round, before stunning 25th seed Magdalena Frech in the first round at Wimbledon. And the upsets keep coming. In Montreal, Mboko has rattled off wins over 79th-ranked Kimberly Birrell, 23rd seed Sofia Kenin, 39th-ranked Marie Bouzkova and Gauff, the world No. 2. Her latest victory boosts her record to 25-8 against higher-ranked players and 51-9 in all competitions. Buzzing in anticipation, the crowd rose to its feet for loud applause the moment Mboko emerged from the tunnel before the match. Neither player looked dialed in during the first set, as both competitors fired shots long and wide and wasted opportunities to break early. At 2-2, Mboko fell in a 40-15 hole, but ultimately took the prolonged game thanks to five service winners, regularly opening points with 180-kilometre per hour strikes. The Canadian then went up 40-0 with three chances to break before a series of errors, including a few mis-hits on her backhand, helped Bouzas Maneiro hold. Mboko retook a 40-0 advantage for three breakpoint opportunities while leading 4-3. This time, Bouzas Maneiro fired her shot into the net. Bouzas Maneiro broke back after Mboko made three unforced errors and double-faulted. Mboko, however, took the set with her second breakpoint when Bouzas Maneiro struck her forehand wide. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 4, 2025 Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press
Canada News.Net
3 hours ago
- Canada News.Net
MLB roundup: Rangers rally, top Yankees in 10th on Josh Jung's HR
(Photo credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images) Josh Jung's two-out, three-run home run in the bottom of the 10th inning provided the winning runs as the Texas Rangers rallied for an 8-5 walk-off victory over the slumping New York Yankees on Monday in Arlington, Texas. After New York did not score in the top of the 10th, Yankees reliever Jake Bird (4-2) retired the first two batters he faced before intentionally walking Wyatt Langford. Jung then rocketed his homer into the left field stands. Danny Coulombe (2-0) worked through a two-out walk in the top of the 10th to earn the win. The Rangers' Joc Pederson ripped a one-out pinch-hit solo homer in the ninth inning off Devin Williams that tied the game at 5-5 and sent it to extra innings. Paul Goldschmidt had three hits and scored three runs to lead the Yankees, who have dropped four straight games. Blue Jays 15, Rockies 1 Bo Bichette homered twice, singled and drove in six runs, Ernie Clement had a career-high five hits, and Toronto routed Colorado in Denver. Toronto's Daulton Varsho went deep for the first time since coming off the injured list on Friday and finished with two hits and four RBIs. Nathan Lukes and Joey Loperfido had three hits apiece and Addison Barger, Alejandro Kirk and Davis Schneider contributed two hits each as the Blue Jays collected season highs in runs and hits (25) to back a strong outing by Eric Lauer (7-2), who held Colorado to one run on seven hits over six innings. Ezequiel Tovar had two hits for Colorado, including an RBI single. Phillies 13, Orioles 3 Kyle Schwarber blasted his 39th and 40th homers and drove in six runs to ignite Philadelphia to a home win over Baltimore. Schwarber's grand slam capped an eight-run sixth inning for Philadelphia, which scored all of those runs with two outs. Recently acquired Harrison Bader hit a go-ahead three-run homer earlier in the frame -- his first home run since joining the Phillies -- while three other Philadelphia players homered in the game. Jesus Luzardo (10-5) worked six solid innings to earn the win. Tyler O'Neill and Jordan Westburg each went deep for Baltimore, which has lost four of its last five games. Orioles starter Cade Povich (2-6) gave up four runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings before the flood gates opened. Brewers 3, Braves 1 Quinn Priester threw seven quality innings and Isaac Collins hit a three-run home run to propel visiting Milwaukee to a victory over Atlanta. Priester (11-2) won his fifth consecutive start, allowing just one run on two hits. The Brewers mustered just three hits, but Collins' 376-foot homer to right field was enough to help the club post its seventh win in eight tries. In the ninth, closer Trevor Megill needed just seven pitches to retire the Braves in order, picking up his 25th save. Fedde (3-12) surrendered three runs on three hits in 5 1/3 innings, walking two and striking out none. Jurickson Profar homered and walked twice, but the Braves fell to 5-11 after the All-Star break. Astros 8, Marlins 2 Jason Alexander pitched six scoreless innings to lead visiting Houston to a win over Miami. Astros outfielder Jesus Sanchez, who made his MLB debut with the Marlins in 2020, slugged an RBI double to open the scoring during Houston's five-run fourth inning. It was Sanchez's fourth game with the Astros after being acquired on July 31. He played 532 games over his first five-plus MLB seasons with the Marlins. Alexander (2-1) allowed just three hits and one walk. Javier Sanoja and Derek Hill homered for Miami in the seventh. It was the first time in 19 years that the Marlins slugged consecutive pinch-hit homers. Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara (6-10) lasted seven innings, allowing nine hits and six runs. Reds 3, Cubs 2 TJ Friedl's tiebreaking seventh-inning single helped the visiting Cincinnati defeat Chicago. Friedl's blooper to shallow center on a 2-2 pitch from Caleb Thielbar was the Reds' third two-out in the inning. His single brought home Jake Fraley, who doubled to right-center off Ryan Brasier (0-1), with the go-ahead run. Emilio Pagan pitched a perfect ninth for his 24th save. Tyler Stephenson homered for the Reds, while Dansby Swanson hit a two-run shot to account for the Cubs' offense. Right-hander Michael Soroka left his Chicago debut after two innings with a sore shoulder, and he is headed for the injured list. Pirates 5, Giants 4 Jack Suwinski hit a two-run shot and later scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth as Pittsburgh rallied for a walk-off victory over San Francisco. After a lengthy rehab from Tommy John surgery, Pirates right-hander Johan Oviedo got his first start since 2023, but lasted just one inning. He surrendered two runs on two hits while throwing 43 pitches. Relievers Yohan Ramirez, Kyle Nicolas, Ryan Borucki and Dauri Moreta (1-0) combined to allow only two runs on five hits over the next eight innings. Giants starter Justin Verlander gave up one unearned run and three hits over five innings. Randy Rodriguez (3-3) walked Andrew McCutchen and hit Suwinski in the ninth to set up the game-winning force out from Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Tigers 6, Twins 3 Kerry Carpenter, Wenceel Perez and Dillon Dingler hit home runs as host Detroit doubled up Minnesota to open their three-game series. Ryan Jeffers, Trevor Larnach and Matt Wallner responded with solo shots for the Twins. Travis Adams, in his first MLB start after four relief appearances, surrendered two runs on four hits while striking out seven in five innings. Noah Davis (0-2) was roughed up in the sixth to take the loss. Detroit starter Casey Mize (10-4) gave up the long balls but allowed only one other hit over six innings. Kyle Finnegan struck out two in the ninth to earn his 22nd save and second since being acquired by the Tigers last week. Diamondbacks 6, Padres 2 Tyler Locklear and Alek Thomas homered, Brandon Pfaadt tied a career high with his 11th victory, and Arizona beat San Diego in Phoenix. Corbin Carroll and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had two hits and two RBIs apiece as the Diamondbacks extended their winning streak to three games. Pfaadt (11-7) gave up two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings, and Kyle Backhus pitched two innings for his first career save. Jackson Merrill and Jake Cronenworth had the Padres' RBIs. JP Sears (7-10) gave up five runs on 10 hits in five innings during his first start for San Diego. Angels 5, Rays 1 Jo Adell hit a two-run homer and Yusei Kikuchi allowed one run on four hits over six innings, leading Los Angeles to a victory over Tampa Bay in the opener of a three-game series in Anaheim, Calif. Taylor Ward went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Bryce Teodosio had a career-high three hits, stole a base and scored a run for Los Angeles. Kikuchi (5-7) walked two and struck out seven while picking up his first win since July 12 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Yandy Diaz doubled, walked and scored a run for Tampa Bay, which lost for the 10th time in the past 12 games. Adrian Houser (6-3), making his Tampa Bay debut after being acquired from the Chicago White Sox at the trade deadline, gave up five runs on 11 hits over 5 2/3 innings. Cardinals 3, Dodgers 2 Masyn Winn and Ivan Herrera hit home runs, Yohel Pozo delivered a go-ahead, pinch-hit single in the ninth inning and St. Louis pulled off a victory over Los Angeles in the opener of a three-game series. Cardinals right-hander Sonny Gray shook off recent struggles to give up one run on one hit over seven innings as St. Louis improved to 2-2 on a six-game road trip to San Diego and Los Angeles. Freddie Freeman homered and Tyler Glasnow went seven strong innings, but the Dodgers still lost in the opener of a six-game homestand. Glasnow yielded one run on three hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. Guardians 7, Mets 6 (10 inn.) Gabriel Arias hit a three-run homer and later delivered an insurance sacrifice fly in the 10th inning as visiting Cleveland outlasted New York. Mets' reliever Ryan Helsley (3-2) allowed a pair of unearned runs in the 10th. Pete Alonso went 4-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs, while Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto had two hits each. Cade Smith (4-4) tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings and wriggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth. Rookie Nic Enright allowed a run in the 10th, but notched his first save. David Fry and Carlos Santana had RBI singles while Steven Kwan and Brayan Rocchio had two hits apiece for the Guardians. Red Sox 8, Royals 5 Jarren Duran hit a three-run home run and Boston extended its winning streak to six games by beating visiting Kansas City. Duran's home run, his 12th of the season, came against Royals starting pitcher Bailey Falter (7-6), who was making his Kansas City debut after being acquired from Pittsburgh. Falter gave up seven runs on eight hits in four innings. He struck out two batters and walked two. Vinnie Pasquantino and Maikel Garcia hit solo home runs for Kansas City. The Red Sox received a strong pitching performance from Brayan Bello, who limited the Royals to one run on six hits in six innings. Bello (8-5) struck out five and walked one. Aroldis Chapman pitched the ninth to earn his 21st save. Romy Gonzalez, Alex Bregman and Wilyer Abreu -- the first three hitters in Boston's batting order -- each collected two hits in the win.
Winnipeg Free Press
6 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Carroll and Gurriel drive in 2 runs each, Diamondbacks beat Padres 5-2
PHOENIX (AP) — Corbin Carroll and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. each drove in two runs, Brandon Pfaadt pitched into the sixth inning, and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the San Diego Padres 6-2 on Monday night. Tyler Locklear and Alek Thomas each hit a solo homer for Arizona. Pfaadt (11-7) gave up two runs in 5 2/3 innings and was replaced in the sixth by Andrew Hoffmann with runners at first and third and two out. Hoffman got Ryan O'Hearn to fly out to end the threat and pitched a 1-2-3 seventh before Kyle Backhus got the final six outs for his first career save. Gurriel singled off Padres starter JP Sears (7-10) to drive in Ketel Marte and give Arizona a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Carroll hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded that drove in Blaze Alexander — who walked to lead off the inning — and made it 2-0. Arizona has won three in a row after it lost nine of 10. Manny Machado doubled with two out and scored when Jackson Merrill followed with another double in the third. Gavin Sheets drew a two-out walk, moved to second when Ramón Laureano singled and scored on a single by Jake Cronenworth to make it 5-2. Key moment Jorge Barrosa doubled to lead off the fourth inning, moved to third when Ketel Marte singled and scored on a double by Carroll. Gurriel singled to drive in Carroll and give the Diamonbacks a 5-1 lead. Key stat Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Thomas went 2 for 4 and is hitting .371 (13 for 35) with a double, three homers, five RBIs and two walks in 11 games since the All-Star break. Up next Padres RHP Yu Darvish (1-3, 6.46 ERA) goes against Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (6-3, 3.20) on Tuesday. ___ AP MLB:
