Canadian Open: Shocks galore at Montreal Masters as Stefanos Tsitsipas and Daniil Medvedev knocked out in second round
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Updated 08/08/2024 at 23:29 GMT+1
The eighth and third seed saw their Montreal Masters campaign come to a close in the second round on Thursday. Veteran Kei Nishikori continued his superb run at the tournament by beating Stefanos Tsitispas in straight sets before Daniil Medvedev was beaten by Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-4 1-6 6-2. Nishikori is the lowest ranked player to reach the event's third round in 20 years.
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Kei Nishikori continued his incredible run at the Canadian Open, stunning eighth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4 6-4 on Thursday.
After a day of rest following his impressive victory over Alex Michelsen in the first round, his first win at this level since 2021, the Japanese claimed the biggest scalp of the tournament so far.
The 34-year-old had a much easier time against the Greek than the American, needing to fight back from a set down in the first round.
Nishikori absorbed nine aces from Tsitsipas, but capitalised on three of four break points to complete the contest in just 42 minutes.
Tsitsipas seriously struggled to hurt the veteran on Nishikori's serve, inconsequentially breaking just once towards the end of the first set.
Nishikori, world No. 576, is the lowest-ranked player still left in the tournament and will take on either Nuno Borges or Ugo Humbert in the last 16.
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It completes a sorry week for the 25-year-old from Athens, who was knocked out by eventual gold medallist Novak Djokovic at the Olympic Games seven days ago.
Third seed Daniil Medvedev followed Tsitsipas through the exit door soon after, succumbing to a 6-4 1-6 6-2 defeat to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
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The Spaniard, ranked No. 42 in the world, took just under two hours to dispatch the Russian, enjoying supreme dominance at the net to get through to the last 16.
Despite winning the same number of points across the contest as Medvedev and committing four more unforced errors, Davidovich Fokina won 27 net points compared to his opponent's 10.
Medvedev, like Tsitsipas, seemed to be struggling with a metaphorical hangover from a disappointing Olympic Games.
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Daniil Medvedev looks on against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain in the Men's Singles second round match during Day Three of the ATP Masters 1000 National Bank Open at Stade IGA on August 8, 2024 in Montreal, Canada.
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The former world No. 1 could only reach as far as the third round in Paris, going out in straight sets to Canadian and bronze medallist Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Davidovich Fokina will play the winner of Matteo Arnaldi and Karen Khachanov on Friday for a place in the quarter-finals.
Elsewhere, Casper Ruud came through a tough battle against Australia's James Duckworth as the sixth seed progressed 6-2 (5)6-7 6-3.
After a comfortable first set, Ruud committed errors at crucial times to see the match levelled following a tense tie-break.
But an all-important break in the fourth game of the third set allowed the Norwegian to close out the match in just over two hours.
Defending champion Jannik Sinner had a simpler time against Borna Coric of Croatia.
The top seed was victorious 6-2 6-4 in 51 minutes to set up a last 16 clash against Chilean Alejandro Tabilo.
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