At the 2025 Canadian Open (also branded as the National Bank Open, running from July 27 to August 7), the top seeds in the men’s and women’s draws—Alexander Zverev and Coco Gauff—both advanced to the third round after hard-fought second-round victories.
Alexander Zverev (Seed No. 1 in Toronto)
World No. 3 Zverev gave a gritty performance in his comeback match, marking his first appearance since a surprising first-round loss at Wimbledon. Facing Australian qualifier Adam Walton under the lights, Zverev edged through with a 7‑6(6), 6‑4 victory. A pivotal 52-shot rally during the first-set tiebreak swung momentum in Zverev’s favor, and he wrapped up the match when Walton served a double fault in the second set.
Despite describing his tennis as not “pretty,” Zverev reflected on his match with pride: “It was a very important moment, very important point for me,” and acknowledged that he had taken much-needed time off after Wimbledon. He now looks ahead to taking on 32nd seed Matteo Arnaldi in the third round on Thursday.
Coco Gauff (Top Seed in Montreal)
In a dramatic showdown on the women’s side, French Open champion and world No. 2 Coco Gauff narrowly escaped defeat, coming back from two match points down to defeat fellow American Danielle Collins in three thrilling sets: 7‑5, 4‑6, 7‑6(2). Gauff endured 23 double faults and committed 74 unforced errors over nearly three hours of play in their first-ever meeting.
Gauff admitted post-match: “I was practicing well and I don’t think I transferred it today, but hopefully I got my bad match of the tournament out of the way,” and expressed hope to clean up her serve going forward. Despite the struggle, she converted nine of sixteen break points and closed out the match emphatically with an ace in the tiebreak.
Looking ahead to the third round, Gauff is scheduled to face No. 5 seed Veronika Kudermetova, who ended a run by eliminating Olga Danilović in straight sets.
Tournament Context and Withdrawals
The 2025 Canadian Open features a newly expanded 96-player singles draw for both ATP Masters 1000 (men in Toronto) and WTA 1000 (women in Montreal). The absence of several top-ranked players—including Aryna Sabalenka, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, and Jack Draper—due to fatigue or minor injuries has altered the competitive landscape. This has elevated seeds like Zverev and Gauff as leading contenders.
Outlook and Significance
For Zverev, this win serves as a confidence-builder after a surprising Wimbledon exit. The match showed he may not yet be at his peak form, but that he can rely on resilience and tactical defense under pressure. A matchup with Arnaldi poses a test of consistency and focus.
Meanwhile, Gauff’s victory—while imperfect—displays her competitive grit. Saving two match points and powering through mental adversity, she demonstrated the ability to fight through rough patches and still come out on top. With the U.S. Open looming at the end of August, these early rounds offer vital preparation and momentum.
Both players now enter Round of 32 with opportunities to refine form and assert themselves in a tournament missing several of the traditionally dominant names.
Summary Table
| Player | Match Score | Key Challenges | Next Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Zverev (ATP No. 3) | 7‑6(6), 6‑4 vs. Adam Walton | First match after Wimbledon loss; unsteady, but decisive moments mattered | Matteo Arnaldi (Seed 32) |
| Coco Gauff (WTA No. 2) | 7‑5, 4‑6, 7‑6(2) vs. Danielle Collins | Struggled with serve (23 double faults, 74 errors); saved two match points | Veronika Kudermetova (Seed 5) |
With the withdrawal of many headline players, Zverev and Gauff now carry the responsibility of top billing in their respective draws. Their progress underscores both the physical and mental demands of high-level tennis—particularly during a long season and ahead of a Grand Slam.
