Defending champion Shelton to face Fonseca in Montreal fourth round
Ben Shelton, the defending champion, is set to play against Joao Fonseca in the fourth round of the Canadian Open in Montreal. This match will be a rematch of their earlier encounter in Munich this season, which the American won.
Fonseca secured his spot in the last 16 by defeating Casper Ruud with a score of 7-6(6), 6-3. This marks Fonseca’s third time reaching the last 16 at an ATP Masters 1000 event. He joins Rafael Jodar, making this the first time since 2018 that two teenagers have advanced to this stage of the tournament.
Fonseca’s path to the fourth round
Fonseca’s match against Ruud saw him recover from an early deficit. After allowing seven break points in his initial three service games, Fonseca trailed 2-4 on centre court. However, he broke back immediately and began to control the game with his baseline play. Fonseca mentioned that these are the matches he is most proud of because he finds a way to solve problems during play.
He started a comeback from 3/5 in the first-set tie-break with an inside-out forehand winner, eventually clinching the first set on his second set point. In the second set, Fonseca broke for 2-0 and did not face any break points. This victory improved Fonseca’s record against Ruud to 2-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. His previous win against Ruud was at Roland Garros two months prior, which led him to his first Grand Slam quarterfinal.
Shelton advanced to the fourth round after a 6-3, 6-2 win over Zizou Bergs of Belgium. Other players who reached the fourth round include Thiago Agustin Tirante of Argentina, who defeated Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 6-4, and Jacob Mencek of Czechia, who won against Terence Atmane of the Netherlands 7-5, 6-4.
Other notable results
In the WTA section of the Canadian Open, Leylah Fernandez ended a streak of seven defeats against Top 10 opponents by beating Roland Garros champion Mirra Andreeva. Fernandez, a 2021 US Open finalist, won the match 6-1, 6-4 in 1 hour and 21 minutes. This victory matched her best-ever result at her country’s signature event and marked her first Top 10 victory in over a year.
Fernandez noted that staying positive, strong, and patient were key to her win, especially during long rallies. Andreeva made 19 unforced errors in the first set and 34 for the entire match, which was double her 17 winners. Fernandez, in contrast, had eight winners and seven unforced errors. Fernandez is now scheduled to face Naomi Osaka, the 2025 National Bank Open finalist, in the Round of 16. Osaka defeated Elise Mertens 6-1, 6-2.
Osaka and Fernandez have split their two previous meetings on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz, with Osaka winning their most recent match in 2025. Osaka mentioned that Fernandez’s left-handed play, particularly her serve, poses a challenge. She also praised Fernandez’s level-headed mindset during the match.
Additionally, American Learner Tien defeated his compatriot Tommy Paul and will face Thiago Tirante in the fourth round. Jakub Mensik is set to play against Botic van de Zandschulp, and Tallon Griekspoor will compete against Daniel Merida in the remaining Round of 16 matches.
Source: theshillongtimes.com
