Rublev, Tiafoe sweat out three-set wins in Toronto
Sixth seed Rublev, runner-up in Canada a year ago to Alexei Popyrin, advanced 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 as Lorenzo Sonego double-faulted on match point in their contest after two and a half hours.
Tiafoe, the number seven, confessed to a bad day but earned his win the hard way as he beat Australian Aleksandar Vukic 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
"The ball was flying a lot, it was really ugly, but I'm happy to get through it," Tiafoe said.
"It doesn't matter how you win. You just have to compete. It was up and down for me today."
Rublev's victory extended the loss streak against the top 20 which has been plaguing Sonego for more than a year.
The Italian has dropped his last 16 matches against the elite dating to Roland Garros last season. He now stands 2-3 against Rublev.
The seed finished with 29 winners while Sonego had 41 unforced errors.
Rublev, who won his 25th match of the season, now goes against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who beat him this season on clay in Barcelona. The Spaniard earned his spot 6-2, 6-4 over Jakob Mensik.
"I'm really happy, it's my first time in the round of 16 here in Toronto," Rublev said of the event, which alternates each season with Montreal.
"I'm excited, motivated and happy with my performance."
The winner said he had to adjust his serve in windy conditions as he made his comeback after losing the opening set.
"I played more aggressive in the second set and made fewer mistakes. I was doing more with my serve. I had to slow it wide in the wind."
Tiafoe next lines up against another Aussie in Alex de Minaur, who advanced when compatriot Christopher O'Connell pulled out with an injury.
Tiafoe earned his 22nd match win of the season as he swept the final three games against Vukic, who had lost 15 or his previous 18 matches prior to arriving in Canada this week.
"I had chances in the second set -- I could have gotten out in straights (sets)," Tiafoe said. "But he fended them off and made me play a third."
The American, a quarter-finalist last week in his Washington hometown, will be playing for the second time in a Masters fourth round this season after Madrid in the spring.
Second seed Taylor Fritz was bidding for the last 16 later as he faced a third-round test against Canadian Gabriel Diallo.
Czech Jiri Lehecka completed a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 fightback to overhaul Arthur Fils as the Frenchman played for the first time since Roland Garros due to a back injury.
str/js
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ohio State's QB competition between Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz remains too close to call
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — After the first quarter of Ohio State's preseason practices, the competition between Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz for the starting quarterback spot remains too close to call. 'The competition continues,' coach Ryan Day said. 'They both have had good moments and moments where they're growing. I will say I've been pleased with the progress. It's going to go right down to the wire. 'The positives of having a competition is that you know every day you got to bring it. The guys are always on edge, they're uncomfortable, they're working at it. I think that's healthy for the entire building.' A quarterback competition the season after winning the College Football Playoff championship is routine at Ohio State. The circumstances, though, are different. In 2015, Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett both had experience as they battled. Jones led the Buckeyes to the title when he started the Big Ten championship and both CFP games after Barrett broke his ankle against Michigan. Sayin and Kienholz have a combined 34 pass attempts and 90 college snaps. They are competing to replace Will Howard, who transferred from Kansas State and threw for a Big Ten-high 4,010 yards and 35 touchdowns in leading the Buckeyes to their sixth national title. Quarterbacks coach Billy Fessler is looking for consistency, especially as the Buckeyes start getting more into situational scenarios during practices the next two weeks. 'We have to be great on third down and in the red zone. That's where quarterbacks make their money,' Fessler said. 'We're in a spot where we're getting more and more of those situations every day. So it's an opportunity for those guys to go out and compete.' Sayin has shown better arm strength, though Keinholz has more athleticism after playing three sports in high school. Sayin originally committed to Alabama as the top-rated quarterback in the Class of 2024 and was taking classes when Nick Saban retired. Sayin then entered the transfer portal last spring and came to Ohio State. He played in four games, including the CFP first-round contest against Tennessee, and was 5 for 12 for 84 yards and one touchdown while taking 27 snaps. The sophomore is the slight favorite to emerge as the starter for the Aug. 30 opener against Texas, but he hasn't paid any attention to the outside hype. 'I feel like I'm developing in my footwork accuracy and mechanics. It's just all about building confidence. You make a great play, you start to build that confidence,' Sayin said. The last snaps Kienholz took in a game were in the 2023 Cotton Bowl against Missouri after starter Devin Brown was injured in the first half. Keinholz struggled, as he completed only six of 17 passes for 86 yards. However, the junior had a great offseason and was one of eight Ohio State players named an Iron Buckeye, which goes to players who excel during offseason workouts. 'As a freshman going in there, I didn't really know a whole lot. I didn't really know how protections worked and I mean, now that's something that I feel like I'm pretty good at, and I go out and and execute that well,' Keinholz said. 'I've been in the offense for three years now, so it's something that I think just more time, more reps and film study, it's helped me get better.' Freshman Tavien St. Clair is also getting snaps, but is still getting up to speed with the offense. He did come in as an early enrollee and participated in spring practices. Besides quarterback, Day and the coaching staff are looking for some of the positions to get an established starting group toward the end of the week. Day used a phrase from safeties coach Matt Guerrieri in comparing this week to the third round of a golf tournament, which is typically called moving day. 'This is moving week. We want to have our identity and it doesn't need to be in stone, but the players can tell us what we're doing and what our identity is coming out of this week,' Day said. ___ AP college football: and
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Nathan Lukes' two-run triple
Nathan Lukes races to third for a triple, while driving in Ty France and Buddy Kennedy to extend the Blue Jays' lead to 5-1 in the 5th inning
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Saskatoon Berries ready for playoffs after setting new record for wins
Last Sunday the Saskatoon Berries set a new Western Canadian Baseball League record for most wins in a single season. The team, which is only in its second season, edged past the Sylvan Lake Gulls' 44 wins in 2024, and now holds the record with 45 wins. Tyson Dale, who usually plays under 18 AAA baseball with the Saskatoon Cubs, got his chance to play in the Western Canadian Baseball League with the Saskatoon Berries. He said he was very nervous, but excited to play in the league. "It feels like it was great. I had a really good time," he said of his experience. "It's a lot more competitive. Guys hit the ball so much harder." Dale said in this league there is no room for mistakes, and even a small error could cost you the game. But the guys in this league know how to get things done. "This is a special group of players, and to have the record that they have this year, it's really special," he said. "I want to take that drive to win into my baseball career." Dale said it would be amazing to be able to play for the Saskatoon Berries next year. "It's always a privilege to play and it's not guaranteed tomorrow," said Cooper Westland, who plays second base, shortstop and third base for the team. "You just want to go out there every day with your best effort and do it for the fans and your teammates as well." Westland said the reason for the success this season is because of the amount of love and support from the coaches, staff and other team members. "We just all just bond together and we just enjoy hanging out with each other," he said. "I think we do a really good job of just showing up each day with a smile on our face, and that's what keeps the whole team going." Jalen Freeman, who plays outfield, said they don't play to lose, they play to win. "That's just how we go about every day, every rep, every practice," he said. In two weeks he will be heading back to his hometown of Houston, Texas, but he says he loved playing for the Saskatoon Berries. "It did me great, this place was great. People were great, the fans were great," he said about his experience. "I mean it's kind of sad, but you know, life goes on and those people will always be in my heart. So it's cool." Freeman said the team is ready for the playoffs. "We are ready to go. We train all season. We worked all season." The first postseason matchup is Thursday, with a home game against the Moose Jaw Miller Express.
