Norrie upset at Canadian Open: Swiatek & Osaka Advance
Cameron Norrie, the British number two, suffered a surprising second-round exit at the Canadian Open, falling to world number 99 Aleksandar Vukic.The 29-year-old Australian secured a 6-3, 6-7 (2-7), 6-3 victory over Norrie in a match that signaled a potential dip in form for the Brit.
Norrie, currently ranked 39th after a strong showing at Wimbledon, hasn’t captured a singles title since 2023. He struggled to translate his grass-court success to the hard courts, quickly falling behind 3-0 in the opening set against Vukic.
A Match Marked by resilience & Setbacks
the match wasn’t without its drama.Norrie appeared unwell during the second set, even requiring a blood pressure check. Despite this, he demonstrated resilience, battling back to level the match.
Ultimately, however, he couldn’t capitalize on his opportunities. A failure to convert any of his three break points in the rain-delayed deciding set proved costly against his unseeded opponent.
Women’s Draw Highlights: Swiatek & Osaka Shine
The women’s event in Montreal delivered compelling action as well. Iga Swiatek, the world number three, marked her first match since winning Wimbledon with a dominant performance. She defeated Chinese qualifier Guo Hanyu 6-3, 6-1, breaking her opponent’s serve six times throughout the match.
Naomi Osaka also delivered a thrilling victory. The four-time Grand Slam champion overcame 13th seed Liudmila Samsonova 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-3 in a match filled with dramatic swings.
Osaka’s Comeback Continues
Osaka faced successive match points but refused to yield. She saved both, then battled back from a 5-2 deficit in the tie-break to secure the second set. This victory marks her first against a top-20 player as January, when she defeated Karolina muchova at the Australian open.
Currently working with new coach Tomasz Wiktorowski,following a split with Patrick Mouratoglou,Osaka broke Samsonova twice in the deciding set. This win ended a four-match losing streak in three-set encounters. She will next face Jelena Ostapenko, who defeated Renata Zarazua 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.
What’s Ahead
Looking ahead, all eyes will be on Emma Raducanu. The British number one is scheduled to play Peyton Stearns on Wednesday.
These early rounds at the Canadian Open are setting the stage for a compelling tournament, with both established stars and rising contenders vying for victory. You can expect further upsets and exciting matches as the competition progresses.
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