Raonic, Shapovalov Monday Montreal Winners; Zverev, Cilic , Kyrgios Tues.
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Canadian stats Milos Raonic and Denis Shapovalov gave the home fans something to root about Monday in Montreal.
Raonic, a former finalist, breezed past Lucas Pouile 6-4, 6-4 in just 72 minutes. Pouille stunned the Canadian in the Australian Open quarterfinals in January, but Raonic turned the tables today behind 16 aces and only four points lost on first serve.
“Overall today I have to be happy with the way I did things,” said Raonic. “I thought I came out, I executed on the things I wanted to do. I knew it was going to be a difficult match. I found a way to sort of get a hold of it and play on my terms.”
Raonic will now meet a countryman in either teen sensation Felix Auger-Aliassime or Vasek Pospisil who meet tomorrow (the two lost together in doubles today).
“I think when I started out on tour, it was something obviously more rare,” Raonic said of facing fellw Canadians. “Now with six of us on tour, now especially this week, six of us being in the main draw, it was bound to happen to some extent.
“Obviously I wish as players, for everybody, everybody could be more evenly spread out. They play first round, then I await the winner of that match. That’s just how it plays out sometimes. It’s unfortunate it played out that way at home.”
In the evening, the struggling Denis Shapovalov got off to a good start shrugging off eight double faults to beat Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-3, 7-5.
In the match of the day, Stan Wawrinka eased past Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-4 for his fourth straight victory over the Bulgarian.
“It was a great match. I’m really happy. It’s always difficult to play against Grigor, but I think I served really well. I was aggressive on the court. I’m happy with the match and with the atmosphere. It’s always amazing to come back to Montreal,” said Wawrinka said. “I did a lot of practice, I put in a lot of hard work to be at a great level.”
Wawrinka now meets 2018 semifinalist Karen Khachanov.
Dimitrov was ranked No. 5 in Canada last year when he reached the quarterfinals, he’ll now plummet outside the Top 70! He has now lost six of his last seven matches and hasn’t reached a quarterfinal since Brisbane.
Former champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was bounced rather briskly by the big-serving Jan-Lennard Struff who rolled the Frenchman 6-2, 6-2.
Tommy Paul, Nikolaz Basilashvili, Roberto Bautista Agut and Christian Garin were also winners. Gael Monfils come from a set down to deny Peter Polansky in the late match.
On Tuesday, 2017 champions Alexander Zverev returns to face Cameron Norrie. Marin Cilic meets Bradley Klahn and Washington winner Nick Kyrgios collides with Kyle Edmund.
John Isner and David Goffin also see action.
TUESDAY MONTREAL SCHEDULE
Court Central Starts At 12:00 Noon
1st Rd 14 Marin Cilic vs (Q) Bradley Klahn
Not Before 2:00 Pm
1st Rd Felix Auger-Aliassime vs (WC) Vasek Pospisil
Not Before 6:30 Pm
1st Rd Nick Kyrgios vs Kyle Edmund
2nd Rd Cameron Norrie vs 3 Alexander Zverev
Banque Nationale Starts At 12:00 Noon
1st Rd Jordan Thompson vs-12 John Isner
1st Rd Guido Pella vs 15 David Goffin
1st Rd 11 Borna Coric vs (SE) Peter Gojowczyk
Not Before 6:30 Pm
2nd Rd 13 Nikoloz Basilashvili vs Jan-Lennard Struff
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