Wednesday 9 August 2017

Thiem out of Montreal

On Day Two in Canada some of the top seeds came out to play.

In Montreal one failed to make it past his first match - a second round encounter with Argentine Diego Schwartzman.

Yes, third seed Dominic Thiem, a dangerous young gun, was thwarted after almost three hours, Diego winning 6-4 6-7 (7) 7-5.

Set one was all about the points won on second serves - Schwartzman won five from his eight while Thiem also won five, but from sixteen.  It illustrated the inability of the Austrian to hit enough first serves into play.


Set two was close, requiring a tie break, although Diego had more opportunities to break before, but Dominic saved four of six and converted both of his break points.

Thiem managed to scrape through and level the match, 9-7 in the breaker.


In another thrilling set, the decider was basically a matter of break points once again.  Thiem had 10 chances but could only convert one.  Of 6 opportunities Schwartzmaan converted twice, enough to forge an upset win.


No other upsets although David Goffin (9! and Pablo Carreno Busta (11) both surrendered first sets before defeating Sugita and Khachanov respectively in first round matches. 


No seeds fell in Toronto but locals were disappointed to see Canadian wildcard Genie Bouchard disappear from proceedings, losing her opening round match to Croatian qualifier Donna Vekic in straight sets.


In what was expected to be a tough battle, Aga Radwanska (10) gave Coco Vandeweghe a hiding 6-3 6-2.  

Astonishingly, Aga served more aces than the American and her serve was not broken all match.


Of the top ten players having their initial runs after a first round bye, Elina Svitolina (5) and Caroline Wozniacki (6) were successful, Wozniacki especially brutal in her disposal of qualifier Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3 6-0.


Day Three will feature second seed Roger Federer against Canadian wildcard Peter Polansky, ranked 116.  Clearly not a showcase match but one for locals to cheer both ends.

Potential contests to watch out for are Nishikori (5) v Monfils, Dmitrov (7) v Mischa Zverev and Sascha Zverev (4) v Gasquet.


Women's battles highlighted are Karolina Pliskova (1) in her first match as world number one v Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Dominika Cibulkova (11) v Lucie Safarova and Venus Williams (9) v rising star Katerina Siniakova, already winner of two titles this year.

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