Gabriel Diallo, the towering 6-foot-8 right-hander from Montreal, secured his place in the third round of the National Bank Open in Toronto by defeating Italy’s Matteo Gigante 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) on Wednesday. The match, which lasted 1 hour and 46 minutes and was interrupted by rain, saw Diallo display resilience, saving two set points at 2-5 in the second set before battling back to force a tiebreak. Despite Gigante taking a 5-3 lead in the breaker, he faltered at the crucial moment, losing the last four points and double-faulting on match point.

Reflecting on the match’s ups and downs, Diallo commented, “Tennis is sometimes pretty crazy with the momentum switches that you see throughout a match.”

Diallo, seeded 27th at his home event, is in the midst of a breakthrough season highlighted by his first ATP Tour title last month in the Netherlands. His next challenge will come against the winner of a later match between second-seeded American Taylor Fritz and Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena.

Iga Swiatek, fresh off her commanding Wimbledon final victory, made a strong return to the court at the National Bank Open in Montreal. Swiatek dispatched China’s Guo Hanyu with a decisive 6-3, 6-1 win to secure a spot in the third round. This match marked her first appearance since claiming her sixth major, where she defeated Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0.

Swiatek began confidently, racing to a 4-0 lead and extending her winning streak to 24 consecutive games. She reflected on the match and her preparation, stating, “I think I played a really solid match today. Playing the first match on hard court after a pretty long break from the surface is always tricky, so I’m happy that I just focused on myself, adjusted to the conditions and played well.”

Looking ahead, the second-seeded Polish star is set to face the winner of the upcoming contest between Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia and Germany’s Eva Lys.

In other notable results, the tournament’s two-time defending champion, Jessica Pegula, also advanced to the next round with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Greece’s Marie Sakkari. American Madison Keys joined the winners’ circle as well, securing her progression in the event.

Swiatek’s performance in Montreal confirms her readiness to continue competing at the highest level following her dominant Wimbledon campaign.

The upcoming match at the National Bank Open in Montreal will feature a compelling confrontation between Emma Navarro and Dayana Yastremska, two contrasting players with distinct approaches to their craft. Yastremska, known for her powerful hitting despite a slender frame, imposes an aggressive game that often overwhelms opponents. Her style is characterized by relentless sluggings, such that a clean shot off her racquet rarely returns.

Navarro offers a contrasting style marked by versatility rather than raw power. She expertly blends a variety of shots including slice, heavy topspin, and deceptive drop shots. While she does not match Yastremska’s pace, Navarro’s strategic mix of offense and defense allows her to craft points with subtlety.

The two have met once before, at the 2024 Australian Open, where Yastremska emerged victorious in a tightly fought three-set encounter. This match marked Yastremska’s only run to a Grand Slam semifinal so far. Meanwhile, Navarro’s breakout year followed, as she rose to a career-high ranking of No. 8 and also reached a semifinal at the US Open.

As the match is set for Thursday evening with an estimated start time of 7:10 p.m. ET, fans will be keen to watch how Navarro’s tactical shot-making will counter the raw power of Yastremska in what promises to be a strategic and gripping contest.