British player Cameron Norrie fought back from a set and two breaks down to defeat Australian third seed Alex de Minaur in an epic three-set encounter at the Toronto Masters.
De Minaur had a chance to close out the match in straight sets after earning a match point in the eighth game of the second set, but Norrie survived and forced a deciding set. The British player then dominated the final set 6-1 to seal victory.
The result further depleted the men’s draw, which had already lost top seed Alexander Zverev, second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime and fourth seed Daniil Medvedev. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic were also absent from the US Open warm-up event.
Fifth seed and defending champion Ben Shelton is now the highest-ranked player remaining in the tournament.
Norrie, the 2021 Indian Wells Masters champion, said the victory had given him confidence.
“It was a great match to win and test my level,” he said. “I can take so much confidence from this one.”
De Minaur took control early, racing to a 4-1 lead before winning the opening set. Norrie responded in the second set, levelling the match in a winning tiebreak before taking control in the decider.
“I was in a good position,” De Minaur said. “It’s tennis. As we’ve seen, anything can happen.”
Norrie will face Frenchman Arthur Fils in the fourth round. Fils defeated Argentina’s Mariano Navone 6-3, 6-2 to advance.
Eighth seed Jiri Lehecka also progressed with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Belgium’s Alexander Blockx. He will next meet Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar, who defeated 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-3.
In the women’s draw, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka reached the fourth round after beating China’s Zhang Shuai 6-3, 6-4.
The reigning US Open champion secured victory in 76 minutes and will next face 16th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia, who defeated Australia’s Talia Gibson 5-7, 6-1, 6-3.
American third seed Jessica Pegula also advanced to the last 16 with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova. She will face 15th seed Diana Shnaider for a place in the quarter-finals.
Polish seventh seed Iga Swiatek secured a comfortable 6-2, 6-1 victory over Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic. She will next play 10th seed Marta Kostyuk, who beat American 19th seed Madison Keys 6-3, 6-1.
