Raonic Rolls Back The Clock In Toronto, Stuns Tiafoe; Former Champs Murray, Zverev Tues.

Milos Raonic made a rousing return to the Masters 1000 level and he did it in front of his home fans in Toronto at the Canadian Open.

The first night session on Monday saw Raonic drop the opening set and then rally past Frances Tiafoe 6-7(12-14), 7-6(7-4), 6-3.

The 32-year-old Raonic had been off the tour for nearly two years due to leg injuries but only return in the grass season. Tonight, dressed in all black, after losing a tight first set — one that saw Tiafoe win it on a controversial but correct judgement after the American touched the net after a winner — Raonic snuck of the second set breaker and ran away with the third.

Raonic finished with 37 aces as Tiafoe, who was standing far back, had no answer and never

“Two years away, five years from playing in Toronto, a whole four years since I got to play in front of my parents, who were there for the majority of my matches as junior and a majority of my matches as a pro. All of these things came together for a great night for me and I’m incredible grateful for it,” Raonic said to the ATP.

Raonic wasn’t the only one turning back the clock. Gael Monfils chopped down Christopher Eubanks in similar fashion, going away in the third 7-6(7-3), 6-7(4-7), 6-1.

No. 12 Tommy Paul defeated Diego Schwartzman of Argentina 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 and 2022 finalist Hubert Hurkacz topped Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik 6-3, 7-6(7-2).

Also, the 16th-seeded Lorenzo Musetti overcame Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka 6-4, 6-1. Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina sent out Canada’s Alexis Galarneau in three 6-2, 4-6, 6-4. Taro Daniel got the better of Adrian Mannarino of France in straights 7-6(7-5), 6-4. Jiri Lehecka defeated Brandon Nakashima in a match that went the distance 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(7-2).

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina enjoyed a surprisingly comfortable win over (J.J. Wolf 6-0, 6-2. Matteo Berrettini eliminated France’s Gregoire Barrere 6-4, 6-3 and Thanasi Kokkinakis sent off (26y,63r) Zhizhen Zhang 7-5, 6-4.

Key matches Tuesday include in second round play No. 3 Casper Ruud gets Lehecka. Ruud won their only collision at Gstaad last year.

Canadian hope Felix Auger-Aliassime faces Max Purcell, No. 11 Cameron Norrie takes on Alex De Minaur, former champion Alexander Zverev tests Washington finalist Tallon Griekspoor, No. 14 Borna Coric will meet Aleksandar Vukic and 3-time winner Andy Murray meets Lorenzo Sonego.

TUESDAY TORONTO SCHEDULE
CENTER COURT
Matches Start At: 12:30 pm
Lorenzo SONEGO (ITA) vs Andy MURRAY (GBR)

Not Before 2:00 pm
Alexander ZVEREV (GER) [13] vs Tallon GRIEKSPOOR (NED)

Not Before 7:00 pm
Felix AUGER-ALIASSIME (CAN) [10] vs [Q] Max PURCELL (AUS)
Jiri LEHECKA (CZE) vs Casper RUUD (NOR) [3]

GRANDSTAND
Matches Start At: 11:00 am
Tomas Martin ETCHEVERRY (ARG) vs Sebastian KORDA (USA)
Ugo HUMBERT (FRA) vs Nicolas JARRY (CHI)
Alex DE MINAUR (AUS) vs Cameron NORRIE (GBR) [11]

Not Before 3:00 pm
[WC] Gabriel DIALLO (CAN) vs Daniel EVANS (GBR)
Ben SHELTON (USA) vs Bernabe ZAPATA MIRALLES (ESP)