Raonic edges Tiafoe in an epic first-round match at Toronto Masters

TORONTO: Canada’s Milos Raonic beat American Frances Tiafoe 6-7 (12), 7-6 (4), 6-3 in an epic first-round match Monday night at the National Bank Open.

The ninth-seeded Tiafoe outlasted the Canadian in a 20-minute tiebreaker in the first set. But Raonic, who grew up in nearby Thornhill, Ontario, took the second set in a tiebreaker and went on to complete the victory in 2 hours, 44 minutes.

This is Raonic’s third tournament appearance since returning to the ATP Tour in June after an injury absence of nearly two years.

Frenchman Gael Monfils put on an impressive display of speed and skill to beat American Christopher Eubanks 7-6(3) 6-7(4) 6-1 to advance to the second round.

After capturing the first set Monfils had match points while leading 6-5 in the second but Eubanks, who caught the attention of the tennis world when he made a run to the quarterfinals of Wimbledon, was able to serve his way out of trouble to set up another tiebreak.

Eubanks battled back from a 4-1 deficit in the second set breaker and levelled the match with a perfectly executed serve and volley in the first meeting between the pair of popular players.

But Monfils broke Eubanks in the first game to jump out to an early lead he would not relinquish in the deciding set.

Next up for Monfils is a second-round meeting with Stefanos Tsitsipas, who enjoyed a first-round bye. Agencies

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