Like last year in Toronto, Canadian Vasek Pospisil met American Tommy Paul in the first round of the National Bank Open on Tuesday at IGA Stadium.
• Also read: National Bank Open: The rain comes to the party
The Maple Leaf player, holder of an invitation from the organizers, lost his flag in straight sets 6-4 and against the 34th player in the world.
Pospisil, 147th on the ATP board, needed time to get going and was erased on his serve in the first game of the meeting. After losing to Paul in three sets in the first round in 2021, he nonetheless later had the merit of showing more conviction without being able to make up for the late break. However, the British-Colombian will blame himself for missing three break chances in the last game of the opener, allowing his rival to capitalize on his first set point.
Competing in the main draw of an ATP event for the second time this season after being hampered by a right elbow injury, Pospisil put himself in trouble again by conceding the entry-break game in the second set.
Paul will have a big call in the next stage as he has a date with second placed Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.