Alcaraz beats Shelton in opener; Monfils knocks out Tsitsipas, Medvedev eases in third round

CANADA: World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz made his Toronto debut on Centre Court against promising American Ben Shelton, winning in straight sets, here.

Alcaraz has played once before in the Canadian Masters 1000 event, last summer in Montreal, falling in his opener to Tommy Paul. This year he is very much a favourite and judging by the response of the fans here it would be a real thrill to see him still standing come Sunday, reports nationalbankopen.com.

Centre Court was jam-packed for the match and Alcaraz received a thunderous ovation as he walked out. Shelton tested him early and stayed with the Spaniard throughout the match and although Alcaraz prevailed 6-3, 7-6(3), it was a closely contested affair. Each player had three break opportunities during the encounter with Alcaraz converting once in the opening set.

Shelton impressed with his booming serve that regularly passed the 230 kph mark and for a big man displayed great foot speed too.

Alcaraz meanwhile summed up his first Toronto experience as follows, “It was really, really good. Honestly, I enjoyed a lot my first match here in Toronto. It seems like I’ve played here for many, many years.”

Britain’s Andy Murray continued to show steady improvement as the August 28 start of the US Open draws closer, with the 36-year-old defeating qualifier Max Purcell 7-6 (7/2), 3-6, 7-5.

The three-time Grand Slam champion recovered from a break down in the final set as he dug in against a feisty opponent from qualifying in a struggle lasting for nearly three hours.

French veteran Gael Monfils stunned Stefanos Tsitsipas, overthrowing him 6-4 6-3, while Daniil Medvedev commenced his U.S. Open preparation promisingly. Home turf favourite Milos Raonic eased through to the competition's third round comfortably.

Medvedev, the tournament's second seed and playing for the first time after his Wimbledon semi-final loss to Carlos Alcaraz, overpowered Italian qualifier Matteo Arnaldi 6-2 7-5 by controlling from the baseline. The former champion and 2021 U.S. Open winner rebutted Arnaldi's three break points and hit 29 winners, taking his victory in 86 minutes.

Mackenzie McDonald skilfully defended the two break points he was served in his victory a 6-4 6-3 win over the world's seventh-ranked player Andrey Rublev.

This set him up against Milos Raonic, who may potentially be playing his last home tournament. Raonic, who was offered a wildcard entry into the Canadian Open, followed up his opening upset round defeat of ninth-seeded player Frances Tiafoe with a solid 6-4 6-3 win over Japanese qualifier Taro Daniel.

America's Taylor Fritz, the eighth seed, proceeded to the next stage following a closely-fought 7-6(7) 3-6 6-3 victory over French player Ugo Humbert.

2017 champion Alexander Zverev fell to Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-1, 6-2 in 62 minutes, with the German losing serve four times.

Jannik Sinner won an all-Italian battle over Matteo Berrettini 6-4, 6-3, saving all seven of the break points he faced. The seventh seed now plays Murray.

He joined countryman Lorenzo Musetti in the round of 16 after the number 19 put out Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis in a 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 fightback.

Young compatriot Gabriel Diallo was eliminated by Australian Alex de Minaur 6-4, 7-5. Agencies

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