Top-seeded Coco Gauff showcased resilience and fighting spirit at the Omnium Banque Nationale in Montréal, overcoming Veronika Kudermetova in a dramatic three-set match lasting two hours and 32 minutes. Gauff, who faced adversity after losing the first set 4-6 and trailing 1-3 in the second, managed a determined turnaround to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.

Since her second Grand Slam triumph at Roland Garros last month, Gauff has encountered challenges with consistency. However, her competitive edge emerged when it mattered most on Centre Court. Ranked No. 2 in the WTA standings, Gauff had demonstrated strong form earlier in the season, including a notable victory over world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka on clay. Yet, she struggled on grass, exiting Wimbledon early, and nearly faced defeat at the US Open start, only to prevail against Danielle Collins in a third-set tiebreak.

Despite being favored, given her head-to-head advantage over Kudermetova, who has dropped to No. 40 from a career-high No. 9, Gauff was challenged early. Kudermetova quickly gained a lead, taking the opening set and initiating a break advantage in the second. Gauff’s refusal to falter was clear as she saved critical break points and shifted momentum with a notable forehand return to equalize in the second set.

The defining moments came during the ninth game of the second set, where Gauff withstood two break points to move closer to a decider. She then pressured Kudermetova, who faltered at set point. Riding this wave, Gauff dominated early in the third set, gaining a 3-0 lead, before finishing the match with authority to secure her place in the next round at the National Bank Open.

In a compelling third-round match at the National Bank Open in Montréal, McCartney Kessler delivered a resilient performance to defeat Mirra Andreeva in a tight contest lasting one hour and 45 minutes on Court Rogers.

Andreeva, ranked No. 28, twice served for the opening set but was unable to close it out. Kessler mounted a spirited comeback, breaking back twice before clinching the first set in a tiebreaker after recovering from a deficit in the mini-break score.

The 18-year-old Andreeva, competing in her first tournament since Wimbledon where she reached her maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal, has enjoyed a breakthrough year highlighted by back-to-back WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells. Her victories over prominent players Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka underscored her rapid rise.

Benefiting from two byes into the third round after 2019 champion Bianca Andreescu withdrew with an ankle injury, Andreeva sought to extend her impressive momentum. Meanwhile, Kessler, 26, has experienced a breakout 12 months herself, entering the Top 30 following three titles including WTA 250 trophies in Cleveland, Hobart, and Nottingham. She recorded one of her most significant career wins against then-world No. 3 Coco Gauff in Dubai.

Kessler rallied from a set down against Australia’s Maya Joint in the opening round and demonstrated similar grit against Andreeva. Early in the second set, she gained a double-break advantage, expanded her lead by winning four consecutive games, and ultimately served out the match despite Andreeva’s fightback and saved match point.

This marked the first meeting between the two, with Kessler advancing to the Round of 16 at Montréal.

Barry Cowan, esteemed tennis commentator, has identified Novak Djokovic as the foremost challenger capable of disrupting the recent dominance of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. The duo has markedly dominated the last seven Grand Slams, sharing all titles in that span and consistently holding significant leads in the rankings—Alcaraz by over 3500 points, and Sinner by nearly 6000.

Their rivalry was showcased in back-to-back Grand Slam finals, with Alcaraz triumphing in a marathon at the French Open, culminating in a 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2) victory after saving three championship points. Weeks later, Sinner reversed fortunes by claiming his maiden Wimbledon title with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over Djokovic, then ranked world No. 2.

Cowan shared his perspective on Djokovic’s chances: “Right now, I don’t see anyone knocking off Djokovic. Obviously, he’s not been able to win the last seven majors, because that’s been dominated by Sinner and Alcaraz, but, you know, I’m not ruling Djokovic out, because when you’ve won it 24 times, and he’s made semi-finals at all three majors this year, so, you know, he’s not far off.”

Despite being 38, Djokovic has reached the semi-finals at all three 2025 majors, including a notable win over Alcaraz at the Australian Open. However, Sinner bested Djokovic in straight sets at both the French Open and Wimbledon, underscoring the physical and mental challenge of overcoming the top tier. Cowan noted the difficulty in capturing a major currently requires navigating through multiple elite players, a feat demanding exceptional resilience.

Looking ahead, Cowan highlighted the potential of several younger players: Jakub Mensik, Jack Draper, and Joao Fonseca all show promise, though he stressed the need for them to elevate their level further. Upcoming tournaments like the Cincinnati Masters present opportunities for this next tier to gain momentum, especially with some top players absent or sidelined due to injury.

Djokovic, Sinner, and Alcaraz are set to return at the Cincinnati Masters from August 7 to 18, while Draper aims for a US Open comeback after arm issues. The evolving landscape signals both continuity and fresh challenges at the pinnacle of men’s tennis.