Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz was one of the big disappointments in Montreal. Photo: Paul Chiasson / The Canadian Press via AP.
Without Rafael Nadal or Alexander Zverev, absent for various physical reasons, and with the loss of Novak Djokovic, firm in his position not to get vaccinated, the great candidates to keep the title in 1000 Canadian Masters they were number 1 in the world, Daniil Medvedev, Carlos Alcaraz (4th) e Stefanos Tsitsipas (5th).
However, they quickly waved goodbye to this year’s tournament in Montreal, losing their debut to Nick Kyrgios, Tommy Paul and Jack Draper respectively.
They were joined by the Russian Andrey Rublev, number 8 in the world and fifth favorite, who lost to the British Daniel Evans.
Alcaraz says goodbye to the Canadian public after his defeat to Tommy Paul. Paul Chiasson / The Canadian Press via AP.
The first shot came in the Canadian morning. alcarazSeeded second for the first time in a tournament in this category, he had more chances, including a match point in the second set tiebreak, but ended up losing after a three-hour 19-minute battle that went down 6- 7, 7 – 6 and 6-3.
“I would say it was the first time I couldn’t take the pressure. Being the number 2 and 4 seed in the world … It was the first time I felt that pressure and I couldn’t control it. “he expressed the Spanish in his networks, absolutely sincere.
Despite the defeat, he became the first player after Djokovic in 2011 to win at least one set in each of the first 50 games of the season. He has amassed 42 wins, only eight losses and four titles, although he has missed an important opportunity to close the gap on Nadal in the fight for world number 1.
Medvedev’s disappointment after his elimination from Montreal. Paul Chiasson / The Canadian Press via AP.
Hours later, the surprise (or not so much) was Kirgioswhich is back a set down e eliminated Medvedev after losing the tiebreak of the first set.
The Australian, champion last week in Washington, is experiencing the best moment of his career. He has won 14 of his last 15 games, with the defeat in the Wimbledon final against Djokovic as the only setback.
Until he falls into the disconnections that characterize him, the result of an unpredictable personality, the man from Canberra will be one of the main candidates of the US Open. Currently, he will face his compatriot Alex De Miñaur in the round of 16 in MontrealThe Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov won.
Tsitsipas complains after a point lost to Jack Draper. Panagiotakis Mines / Getty Images / AFP.
Added to the list of surprises Tsitsipaswho lost 7-5 and 7-6 (4) to the powerful ‘drive’ of southpaw Jack Draper, only 20 years old and number 82 in the world.
The Greek, finalist of the 2018 tournament, was the victim of his 36 unforced errors and fell after two hours and two minutes of play against the British, who celebrated his first career victory against a Top Ten.
The fight for the number 1
These results have only one beneficiary namely Rafael Nadal. The Majorcan, leader of the Race (annual ranking), has resigned from participating in this tournament to continue recovering from the abdominal injury that forced him to retire from Wimbledon and saw that first place threatened.
However, alcaraz Y Tsitsipas, its closest pursuers, failed to bridge the gap. Fourth, Casper Ruud, He is still alive in Montreal, but he is more than 2,000 points behind the Balearic Islands.
The fight for the top of the standings, which today belongs to a Medvedev who last year in Canada failed to defend the 1,000 champion points, will continue next week in Cincinnatithe prelude to the US Open. If Rafa is champion and Daniil does not reach the quarter-finals, the winner of 22 Grand Slams will return to number 1position he has not held since February 2020.
Source: Clarin
