Mektić Quickly Eliminated in Montreal, Pavić Awaits Tonight's Match
Croatian pairs had contrasting fortunes at the ATP Masters 1000 in Canada, while an incredible comeback was seen in singles.
Croatian pairs had contrasting fortunes at the ATP Masters 1000 in Canada, while an incredible comeback was seen in singles.
Croatian tennis player Nikola Mektić and his American partner Austin Krajicek ended their run at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Montreal already in the first round. They were defeated by the seventh seeds, the Argentine-French duo of Guido Andreozzi and Manuel Guinard, with a score of 6:4, 6:2.
According to HRT, the finalists of the recently concluded tournament in Washington failed to find an answer to the play of their quality opponents. Fatigue likely played a key role, as Mektić and Krajicek had played that final just four days earlier. Andreozzi and Guinard paved their way to victory already in the third game of the first set when they made a break, and they confirmed their dominance with further service breaks in the fifth and seventh games of the second set.
The other Croatian representative in doubles, Mate Pavić, is yet to start his campaign. He and Salvadoran Marcelo Arevalo were supposed to play against the American duo of Alex Michelsen and Learner Tien, but they withdrew from the tournament. As reported by Sportske novosti, Pavić and Arevalo have been given replacement opponents, the American pair of Robert Cash and Brandon Nakashima. Their match is scheduled for tonight Central European Time.
In the singles competition, the tournament witnessed a real sensation. Cameron Norrie defeated the world No. 7, Australian Alex de Minaur, in a three-hour battle, 5:7, 7:6, 6:1. De Minaur had the match completely in his hands, leading 7:5 and 5:2, even serving for the match and reaching a match point. However, Norrie managed to turn things around, recovering both breaks and winning the second set in a tie-break. After that, the world No. 7 completely fell apart, winning only one game in the deciding set.
With this defeat, of the top ten players in the world, only American Ben Shelton remains in Montreal, who plays his round of 16 match tonight.
