In a remarkable display of skill and determination, Olympic doubles bronze medalists Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul secured victories in their opening singles matches at the National Bank Open. The ninth-seeded Fritz demonstrated his prowess on the court by defeating Mariano Navone of Argentina with a score of 6-4, 6-1. Similarly, the 10th-seeded Paul showcased his talent by triumphing over Luciano Darderi of Italy with a score of 6-4, 7-6 (2).
After his win, Fritz expressed his satisfaction with his performance, stating, “It was a solid match. I feel like the level, probably from both of us, went up a bit in the second set. We started playing longer points.” Meanwhile, Paul displayed confidence in his abilities and readiness for the next round.
Fritz is set to face American Sebastian Korda in the second round, following Korda’s lead in his match against Vasek Pospisil, where Pospisil retired due to a back injury. Additionally, Americans Ben Shelton and Brandon Nakashima progressed to the next round, with Nakashima, a qualifier, scheduled to compete against Paul. Shelton shared his thoughts on his improving consistency on the court, highlighting his growing comfort and confidence in challenging opponents.
The tournament also witnessed unexpected results, as Flavio Cobolli of Italy, who faced a loss to Korda in the DC Open final, defeated 14th-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada with a score of 6-3, 6-2. This surprising outcome added an element of unpredictability and excitement to the competition.
The National Bank Open showcased thrilling matches, remarkable victories, and surprising upsets, highlighting the incredible talent and competitive spirit of the players. The performances of Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, and other competitors demonstrated their skill, determination, and resilience on the court, setting the stage for further exciting matches in the tournament.