WATCH the ATP Tou LIVE in Australia on beIN SPORTS | Subscribe here and take advantage of our 7-day FREE TRIAL

Taylor Fritz was tested in his Toronto opener, yet the 27-year-old edged Roberto Carballes Baena 7-5, 7-6(1) to advance.

The first American top-two seed at an ATP Masters 1000 event since No. 1 Andy Roddick in 2005 (Paris), Fritz has another stern challenger looming next. The World No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings will meet Gabriel Diallo, the last Canadian in the Toronto draw, whom Fritz beat earlier this month at Wimbledon. Fritz outlasted Diallo in a five-set thriller at the All England Club — a result which the 6’8” home favourite will be eager to avenge.

Fritz wavered at times against Carballes Baena, even surrendering his typically reliable serve while serving for the first set at 5-3 after a short rain stoppage. The Spaniard absorbed Fritz’s firepower and tested the American's consistency in lengthy rallies, but Carballes Baena blinked late in the second set, double faulting on break point while serving at 5-4.

“Being down that break, getting it back at 5-4 — 30/0 for him too — I played a really good point to get back in that and then I just grinded it out in the breaker,” Fritz said. “Tough conditions all week here. I feel like even in practice, I’ve had such a hard time just literally putting the ball in the court. Happy to get through that.”

An 18-minute rain delay preceded the second-set tie-break, but then Fritz went into lockdown mode and struck the ball cleanly to avoid any late drama, advancing after two hours, 31 minutes.

Now 33-13 on the season, Fritz is attempting to complete the set of quarter-finals at all nine ATP Masters 1000 events. The 10-time tour-level titlist is seeking his second Masters 1000 crown (Indian Wells, 2022).

In other action, Fritz’s countryman Frances Tiafoe rallied past Yosuke Watanuki 1-6, 7-5, 7-6(5) to avenge his March Indian Wells loss to the Japanese player.

Despite Watanuki’s barrage of 45 winners to Tiafoe’s 19, the seventh seed held his nerve in crucial moments to advance. Watanuki, who won nine more points than Tiafoe, will rue his two-for-nine break point conversion rate. 

Christopher O’Connell shocked 23rd seed and 2018 finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.

O’Connell, who arrived in Toronto on a seven-match tour-level skid, is into the third round of an ATP Masters 1000 event for the second time (Miami, 2024). Tsitsipas, No. 29, is in danger of falling out of the Top 30 for the first time since July 2018.

Davidovich Fokina defeated Corentin Moutet 6-4, 6-3. 

Davidovich Fokina is competing at a career-high No. 19 after his runner-up finish in Washington, D.C, where the Spaniard let slip three championship points to De Minaur. 

Hungarian Fabian Marozsan spoiled the hopes of home favourite Felix Auger-Aliassime with a 6-4, 6-4 victory amidst windy evening conditions. 

Marozsan crucially struck a second-serve ace down break point while serving for the match at 5-4 en route to closing out the contest.

Arthur Fils was back in action for the first time since aggravating a back injury at Roland Garros.

The 21 year-old Frenchman ousted 2022 champion Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3, 6-4 to set a meeting with Jiri Lehecka, who was a 7-6(2), 6-4 winner against Mackenzie McDonald.