Canadian Open Montreal ATP Day Three Round-Up | Jack Draper crashes out, Tsitsipas finds confidence as Tiafoe survives thriller
ATPWednesday, 05 August 2026 at 04:07
The ATP Masters 1000 action in Toronto continued with several notable names pushing through challenging opening-round encounters. Stefanos Tsitsipas collected a much-needed victory after a difficult period, while Alex de Minaur survived a dramatic second-set battle to avoid a deciding set against fellow Australian James Duckworth.
The day also featured contrasting stories among seeded players, with Hubert Hurkacz continuing his search for consistency, Frances Tiafoe overcoming former champion Marin Čilić, and Jack Draper’s campaign ending in disappointing circumstances after physical issues forced him to struggle against Terence Atmane.
Tsitsipas finds confidence boost against Damm
Stefanos Tsitsipas def. Martin Damm 6-4, 6-4
Tsitsipas secured a confidence-building victory in Toronto with a composed performance against Damm, controlling the match through his serve and waiting patiently for his opportunities.
The Greek faced a dangerous opponent who was striking the ball cleanly from the baseline, but he remained disciplined throughout the opening set and avoided giving away easy chances. After staying level early, Tsitsipas found his opening late in the set, converting a crucial break before confidently serving it out to take the lead.
The second set presented an early challenge when Tsitsipas fell behind 0-2, but the former world No. 3 responded impressively from return. The Greek immediately shifted momentum by winning three consecutive break games, turning the set around and placing himself firmly in control. Although he missed a match point while serving for the victory, the advantage was already decisive as Tsitsipas closed out the win to set up a third-round meeting with Joao Fonseca.
Hurkacz survives Giron test to continue comeback
Hubert Hurkacz def. Marcos Giron 7-5, 4-6, 6-2
Hurkacz delivered a strong serving display to overcome Giron in a competitive three-set battle, showing signs of returning to his best level after a difficult stretch. The Pole was particularly effective behind his first delivery, winning 90% of first-serve points and producing 42 winners throughout the match.
Despite Giron staying close for most of the opening set, Hurkacz remained patient and eventually found the breakthrough late, securing the decisive break before serving out the set.
Giron responded well after falling behind, taking advantage of a brief lapse from Hurkacz at the start of the second set to build momentum and force a decider. However, the Pole immediately regained control in the final set, breaking early and relying on his serve to maintain the advantage. Hurkacz eventually sealed the victory with another break and advanced to face Alejandro Tabilo, who arrives with confidence after reaching the DC Open semi-finals.
Hurkacz reached the final in Montreal 2022, but ended up losing to Pablo Carreño Busta
Atmane advances after Draper injury setback
Terence Atmane def. Jack Draper 6-3, 2-6, 6-2
Atmane earned one of the biggest victories of his career after Draper was forced to battle physical issues during their three-set encounter. The opening set remained tightly contested behind serve until the Frenchman found the first opening of the match, converting his only break chance in the eighth game. Atmane remained composed afterward and closed out the set with his own delivery to take the early advantage.
Draper responded strongly in the second set, raising his level and dominating the exchanges. The Brit quickly established a double-break advantage and needed only 31 minutes to force a decider, showing the quality that had made him one of the leading young players on tour.
However, Draper’s physical struggles became increasingly visible in the final set, where he won only 48% of first-serve points and became vulnerable on serve. Atmane took advantage of three break opportunities, converting two to complete the upset and earn a third-round clash with 2025 finalist Karen Khachanov.
De Minaur survives Duckworth scare in straight sets
Alex de Minaur def. James Duckworth 6-2, 7-6(8)
De Minaur avoided a major scare against compatriot Duckworth after a match that appeared under control before turning into a tense second-set battle. The world No. 7 immediately showed his superiority, breaking early and using his consistency from the baseline to dictate the tempo. After establishing a double-break advantage in the opening set, De Minaur maintained pressure on Duckworth and comfortably closed out the opener.
The second set followed a similar pattern early, with De Minaur moving ahead 2-0, but Duckworth responded with a strong comeback. The underdog recovered the break at 3-3 and stayed composed behind his serve, eventually forcing De Minaur to serve under extreme pressure at 5-6, 15-40.
The Australian saved three set points to reach the tie-break, where Duckworth had further opportunities to level the match. However, De Minaur won five consecutive points at the crucial moment, saving multiple dangers and completing the straight-sets victory.
Shang stuns Rublev in Toronto upset
Shang Juncheng def. Andrey Rublev 7-5, 4-6, 7-6
Shang Juncheng produced one of the biggest surprises of the opening round in Toronto, eliminating Rublev in a dramatic three-set battle. The Russian entered the tournament looking to build on his recent history at the event after reaching the quarter-finals in each of the last two editions, but his consistency issues proved costly throughout the match.
Despite moments of strong attacking tennis, Rublev struggled with unforced errors, finishing with 68 compared to 47 from Shang, while also failing to capitalise on several break-point opportunities.
The biggest turning point came in the deciding set, where Rublev appeared close to victory after building a commanding 5-2 lead and moving within one game of the win. However, Shang refused to collapse under pressure, recovering the break and forcing a tie-break after Rublev was unable to close out the match. The Chinese player remained composed in the decisive moments, taking advantage of Rublev’s errors and completing a memorable victory over the No. 8 seed.
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Tiafoe overturns Cilic test to advance in Toronto
Frances Tiafoe def. Marin Čilić 5-7, 6-2, 6-2
Tiafoe overcame a difficult start against former champion Čilić to complete a comeback victory and continue his Toronto campaign. The opening set was a tightly contested battle, with both players producing quality tennis behind their serves, but the Croatian eventually found the breakthrough late after withstanding several break-point opportunities throughout the set.
Tiafoe appeared to be the more dangerous player for long stretches, but struggled to deliver in the key pressure moments as Čilić took advantage to steal the opener 7-5.
The American responded immediately in the second set, raising his intensity and taking control of the match with a dominant stretch of tennis. Tiafoe won five consecutive games to turn the momentum completely around and force a deciding set, where he continued his improvement behind serve.
The 2022 US Open semifinalist maintained his level under pressure, limited Čilić’s opportunities and closed out the victory with another convincing set. Tiafoe will face the winner between Miomir Kecmanović and Arthur Rinderknech (23rd seed) in the third round.
Lucas MichaelTennis Journalist
Lucas Michael is a tennis journalist based in Cambridge, UK, specializing in comprehensive coverage of the ATP and WTA tours. For the past 1.5 years, he has been a core contributor to TennisUpToDate, where he has authored more than 3,000 data-driven match reports, deep-dive analysis pieces, and engaging liveblogs.
Lucas pairs real-time statistical analysis with on-the-ground reporting, frequently traveling to tournaments to cover the action firsthand from the press box and player press conferences. This blend of advanced metrics and direct access allows him to provide sharp context regarding player form, tactical trends, and breaking tour developments.
He holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. Grounded in core journalistic ethics, Lucas places a strict emphasis on meticulous sourcing, editorial accuracy, and a commitment to updating live content swiftly as verified information emerges.
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