Holger Rune, seeded No. 5 at the National Bank Open in Toronto, faces a tough test against the powerful Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. The 22-year-old Rune recently spent time training with Andre Agassi, focusing on improving his return game. “He gives very good advice on how to return,” Rune told Ziggo Sport. “He was an incredible returner, as I am too, so we can share information and that’s great.”

Rune’s return skills will be put to the test against Mpetshi Perricard, a towering 6-foot-8 player known for his formidable serve. The Frenchman presents one of the toughest serves to return on tour. Rune holds a 0-1 head-to-head record against him, having lost their only previous match on indoor hard courts last fall in Basel.

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, once seen as a rising star in the Top 30 and a potential future Top 10 player, has faced challenges this season, holding a 10-15 record and dropping to No. 43 in the rankings. Rune, meanwhile, despite some back issues that forced a withdrawal from the DC Open, has maintained a top 10 ranking at No. 9 and boasts a 22-14 overall record this year, including a title win over Carlos Alcaraz.

With marquee players like Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic absent, Rune sees this as a prime opportunity. Agassi advised Rune to play a somewhat slower style of tennis to better utilize his power and shot quality. Rune explained, “What he tried to explain to me is that he wanted my tennis to be a bit slower. And he thinks I can do things much easier with my power and quality in my shots.”

The match is scheduled to start around 12:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 29, with live coverage available on TennisChannel.com.

Canadian tennis player Vasek Pospisil reflected on his career during his final press conference at the Canadian Masters, where he lost to Facundo Bagnis. Pospisil expressed confusion over top players, including Jannik Sinner, opting out of representing their countries at the Olympics and Davis Cup events.

“I don’t understand players that don’t play Davis Cup and don’t play Olympics, I genuinely don’t,” Pospisil said. “It’s like, how much money or success or this do you want to chase for yourself individually. Bigger picture, I just don’t understand it, honestly.”

He emphasized the importance of national representation, stating, “To play for your country, it’s good for everybody. It’s good for you, it’s good for your energy, it’s good to give back to your country, to be a role model for the kids.”

Pospisil acknowledged the physical demands on players but dismissed prioritizing rest over representing one’s country: “Prioritise a week of rest, to play another, to be fresh for one of a thousand tournaments that you’re going to play in your career, or go and represent your country, when you’re only going to have a handful of opportunities to do that in your career.”

A two-time Olympian in singles (2012 and 2016), Pospisil also contributed to Canada’s 2022 Davis Cup Finals victory.

He criticized the financial motivations behind some players’ decisions, “Unfortunately, I think a lot of times it comes down to money for these guys, and that’s just not the right way to look at it.”

The 2024 Olympics men’s singles gold medal was won by Novak Djokovic, who defeated Carlos Alcaraz. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner did not participate in the event due to tonsillitis, a decision that drew Pospisil’s criticism.

Sinner had been a strong contender after reaching the 2024 French Open semifinals and close defeats this season to Alcaraz. Sinner released a statement: “I am bitterly disappointed to inform you that unfortunately, I will not be able to participate in the Paris Olympic Games… the doctor diagnosed me with tonsillitis and strongly advised against playing. Missing the Games is a huge disappointment, as it was one of my main goals for this season.”

He added, “I was eagerly looking forward to the honor of representing my country in this incredibly important event. A big good luck to all the Italian athletes, whom I will be cheering for from home. Forza Italia.”

The final of the Mubadala Citi Open offered a vivid display of the mental challenges in tennis, as Alejandro Davidovich Fokina faltered against Alex de Minaur despite a strong position. Known for his aggressive style, Davidovich Fokina’s troubles often come from rushing shots rather than hesitation. Sunday’s match underlined this pattern, as he served for the title at 5-3 in the third set and went up 30-0, only to succumb to a sequence of unforced errors including a double fault and a misfired forehand.

His internal battle became increasingly visible, manifesting in intense frustration, arenas of disappointment, and a total collapse of composure in the final stages. Despite squandering three championship points, his competitive spirit never fully diminished during his match points, where he refrained from rushing and acknowledged de Minaur’s superior play.

Davidovich Fokina’s approach to anxiety and pressure, unfortunately, led to his losing from match point up for the second time this year, echoing previous losses in Delray and Acapulco. Yet, his post-match speech was composed and reflective, acknowledging de Minaur’s deserving victory and taking solace in achieving his season goal of breaking into the Top 20.

De Minaur exemplified sportsmanship, consoling his opponent openly on court. “You are a hell of a competitor, a hell of a player. No one on the tour wants to play you. This is not the end, this is only going up for you,” he told Davidovich Fokina. This interaction highlighted the respect and empathy shared between the two, reinforcing that this Washington final is but a waypoint in Davidovich Fokina’s rising career trajectory.

The emotional roller coaster of this match underscores the complexity of mental resilience in tennis, and while the choke remains a haunting foe, the capacity to regain composure and credit the opponent is a testament to true sportsmanship and character.