Taylor Fritz beats Canadian Gabriel Diallo in Toronto in 3rd round of National Bank Open
TORONTO (AP) — Second-seeded Taylor Fritz of the United States beat 6-foot-8 Canadian Gabriel Diallo 6-4, 6-2 on Friday night in the third round of the National Bank Open.
Fritz set up a fourth-round match in the hard-court event with 19th-seeded Jiri Lehecka of Czechia. Lehecka beat 15th-seeded Arthur Fils of France 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The 27-year-old Fritz is No. 4 in the world. He has 10 career ATP Tour titles, winning this year on grass at Eastbourne and Stuttgart.
In the afternoon, sixth-seeded Andrey Rublev of Russia beat Lorenzo Sonego of Italy 5-7, 6-4, 6-3. Rublev will face Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain, a 6-2, 6-4 winner over Czech Jakub Mensik.
'In the second and third sets, I was able to play more aggressive, fewer mistakes,' Rublev said. 'Let's see what's happening next, I'm super excited and motivated.'
Seventh-seeded Frances Tiafoe of the United States edged Aleksandar Vukic of Australia 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 to set up a match with Washington winner Alex de Minaur of Australia. De Minaur advanced when countryman Christopher O'Connell withdrew.
Top-ranked Jannik Sinner — the 2023 winner — and No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz skipped the hard-court event that ends Thursday. No. 5 Jack Draper and No. 6 Novak Djokovic also are absent.
___
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Running back James Cook's contract standoff with Bills reaches 3rd practice
PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills and James Cook are in agreement on at least one aspect of the running back's contract standoff, which had the starter skipping his third consecutive training camp practice on Wednesday. Neither side will hazard guessing on how much longer Cook will continue declining to practice in the fourth-year player's escalating bid to extend the final year of his contract. What's more evident is how the team and player aren't on the same page on various aspects of negotiations based on what people on each side of discussions told The Associated Press over the past two days. The people spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because the talks are private. Barring a sudden thaw in negotiations, it's unclear who is expected to take the next step to spur discussions. While the Bills have not ruled out potentially getting a deal done even if it means waiting until after the season, there's a difference over how optimistic each side is of having one in place before the season opens. The two sides also differ over whether Cook opened negotiations seeking a $15 million a year payday based on the player posting '$15 mill year' in a message he posted on social media in February. Though it's unclear how far apart they are on what's expected to be a three-year contract, Cook's current asking price ranges somewhere between $11 to $12.5 million in guaranteed money. How that fits in the Bills' long-term salary cap structure is unclear even for a player who co-led the NFL with 16 touchdowns rushing during Cook's breakout season in 2024. 'It's how do you divvy up your money? You don't want to lose a James Cook. He's a valuable piece to our team,' Bills GM Brandon Beane told The AP on July 25. 'But you also don't want to lose (left tackle) Dion Dawkins, (right tackle) Spencer Brown, the line we've put together or the money we put in the pass rush,' he added. 'Teams are forced with choices, and those choices get really hard once you've paid that quarterback.' Cook wound up being the odd-player out in Beane's offseason spree of signing four players entering their final contract seasons to extensions. Cook, meantime, believes he is deserving of a raise based on his production last year — his 16 TDs rushing tied a single-season team record — and the Bills placing an emphasis on a more balanced attack since Joe Brady took over as offensive coordinator midway through the 2023 season. 'I deserve what I want, what I need, and it's going to eventually happen,' Cook said, two days into training camp. 'I mean, however it happens, it's going to get done, wherever it happens.' He referred to viewing himself as one of the NFL's top running backs and added he didn't regret posting what he did on social media. Cook was a full practice participant during Buffalo's first eight practices, before starting his 'hold-in' on Sunday, when he watched from the sideline dressed in a white track suit. On Monday, he made a brief appearance before ducking out before practice began and did not return. Cook didn't make an appearance Wednesday, but is still present at camp. Buffalo closes camp in suburban Rochester, New York, with a practice Thursday before opening its preseason schedule by hosting the New York Giants on Saturday. The team will then resume practicing at its headquarters in Orchard Park. Cook fears risking injury while entering the final year of his contract. Though the Bills have backups Ray Davis and Ty Johnson in position to step in, they also face a risk should one of them get hurt. Bills players and coaches insist Cook's absence hasn't been a distraction. Brady said he's treated Cook's absence no different than how he's adapted his practice plans to take into account several players sidelined by injuries. 'You guys know how I feel about James and the love I have for him, and all that's out of my control in my hands,' Brady said. 'So I find out tomorrow, hey, Jimbo's going, I can focus on this. I find out it's two weeks, whenever that time comes, we'll adjust, we'll be ready to go.' ___ AP NFL:
Associated Press
11 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Running back James Cook's contract standoff with Bills reaches 3rd practice
PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills and James Cook are in agreement on at least one aspect of the running back's contract standoff, which had the starter skipping his third consecutive training camp practice on Wednesday. Neither side will hazard guessing on how much longer Cook will continue declining to practice in the fourth-year player's escalating bid to extend the final year of his contract. What's more evident is how the team and player aren't on the same page on various aspects of negotiations based on what people on each side of discussions told The Associated Press over the past two days. The people spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because the talks are private. Barring a sudden thaw in negotiations, it's unclear who is expected to take the next step to spur discussions. While the Bills have not ruled out potentially getting a deal done even if it means waiting until after the season, there's a difference over how optimistic each side is of having one in place before the season opens. The two sides also differ over whether Cook opened negotiations seeking a $15 million a year payday based on the player posting '$15 mill year' in a message he posted on social media in February. Though it's unclear how far apart they are on what's expected to be a three-year contract, Cook's current asking price ranges somewhere between $11 to $12.5 million in guaranteed money. How that fits in the Bills' long-term salary cap structure is unclear even for a player who co-led the NFL with 16 touchdowns rushing during Cook's breakout season in 2024. 'It's how do you divvy up your money? You don't want to lose a James Cook. He's a valuable piece to our team,' Bills GM Brandon Beane told The AP on July 25. 'But you also don't want to lose (left tackle) Dion Dawkins, (right tackle) Spencer Brown, the line we've put together or the money we put in the pass rush,' he added. 'Teams are forced with choices, and those choices get really hard once you've paid that quarterback.' Cook wound up being the odd-player out in Beane's offseason spree of signing four players entering their final contract seasons to extensions. Cook, meantime, believes he is deserving of a raise based on his production last year — his 16 TDs rushing tied a single-season team record — and the Bills placing an emphasis on a more balanced attack since Joe Brady took over as offensive coordinator midway through the 2023 season. 'I deserve what I want, what I need, and it's going to eventually happen,' Cook said, two days into training camp. 'I mean, however it happens, it's going to get done, wherever it happens.' He referred to viewing himself as one of the NFL's top running backs and added he didn't regret posting what he did on social media. Cook was a full practice participant during Buffalo's first eight practices, before starting his 'hold-in' on Sunday, when he watched from the sideline dressed in a white track suit. On Monday, he made a brief appearance before ducking out before practice began and did not return. Cook didn't make an appearance Wednesday, but is still present at camp. Buffalo closes camp in suburban Rochester, New York, with a practice Thursday before opening its preseason schedule by hosting the New York Giants on Saturday. The team will then resume practicing at its headquarters in Orchard Park. Cook fears risking injury while entering the final year of his contract. Though the Bills have backups Ray Davis and Ty Johnson in position to step in, they also face a risk should one of them get hurt. Bills players and coaches insist Cook's absence hasn't been a distraction. Brady said he's treated Cook's absence no different than how he's adapted his practice plans to take into account several players sidelined by injuries. 'You guys know how I feel about James and the love I have for him, and all that's out of my control in my hands,' Brady said. 'So I find out tomorrow, hey, Jimbo's going, I can focus on this. I find out it's two weeks, whenever that time comes, we'll adjust, we'll be ready to go.' ___ AP NFL:
San Francisco Chronicle
40 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
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. ___
