Alex de Minaur’s remarkable mid-match surge proved the difference on Tuesday at the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers as the Australian upset 11th seed Cameron Norrie 7-5, 6-4 at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Toronto.
De Minaur won seven of eight games from 3-5 down in the first set to notch a one-hour, 43-minute triumph in his third Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with Norrie. In the first of those games, Norrie let slip a set point at 40/30 and then dropped serve with a double fault after repeatedly struggling with his ball toss in the strong Toronto wind.
“It was definitely not easy conditions out here. It was blowing a gale, it didn’t make for pretty tennis,” said De Minaur. “So I think we both struggled a bit out here today, but I’m happy I was able to get the win over an incredible opponent.”
De Minaur is now 18-8 on hard courts for the season, a tally that includes his run to a maiden ATP 500 crown in Acapulco. The 24-year-old last week reached the championship match in Los Cabos, and he will take on home wild card Gabriel Diallo next as he looks to continue his strong recent form.
“I’m just finding my game,” said De Minaur, who also reached a final on grass this year at The Queen’s Club in June. “I’ve always thought I’ve had this level, and now I’ve just put a couple of good matches together and that gives you confidence. So you build on that, and hopefully we can keep it going.”
Ugo Humbert also progressed on Tuesday in the same section of the draw. The Frenchman overhauled Nicolas Jarry 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours, 34 minutes to reach the second round at the Canadian Masters 1000 event for the second time.
Having reached semi-finals in Newport and Atlanta and the quarter-finals in Washington across the past three weeks, Humbert arrived in Toronto full of confidence. He will hope to carry that into his second-round match as he looks to upset eighth seed Taylor Fritz.
Three Americans earned straight-set victories Tuesday afternoon. World No. 32 Sebastian Korda cruised past Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3, 6-2 while Mackenzie McDonald ousted Aslan Karatsev 6-3, 6-4. Amidst blustery conditions, the 28-year-old McDonald advanced after committing 22 unforced errors to Karatsev’s 39. Qualifier Marcos Giron escaped Emil Ruusuvuori 7-6(4), 7-6(6) in two hours, four minutes.
Australian Aleksandar Vukic also advanced after defeating 14th seed Borna Coric 6-2, 6-3.
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