Montreal Match “Shark Bites”: What to Watch for on Wednesday at the NBO

Here’s a closer look at the feature matches on the schedule courtesy of renowned ATP stats and information guru, Greg Sharko.
 
Jenson Brooksby vs. [5] Ben Shelton – This is a first-time meeting between the two Americans. Brooksby comes in ranked No. 74 with an 11-17 match record on the season. He is trying to earn his third career Top 10 win (2-13) and break a seven-match losing streak since beating No. 3 Ruud in the second round at the 2023 Australian Open. Shelton is the defending champion and he enters with a 27-12 match record on the season. He’s won a personal-best three titles on as many surfaces for the first time in his career – Dallas (hard), Munich (clay) and Stuttgart (grass).

 [1] Alexander Zverev vs. Tallon Griekspoor – The World No. 2 owns a 9-2 head-to-head record (5-2 on hard) against the Dutchman.  The 29-year-old German comes in as the top seed at the NBO for the second straight year (SF in Toronto).  He has a 44-11 record on the season (15-5 on hard) and he captured his first Grand Slam title at Roland-Garros in June (d. Cobolli in five sets) and then followed with a runner-up at Wimbledon (l. to Sinner). Griekspoor has struggled this season with a 10-16 record (8-7 on hard) and he owns a 7-33 career record against Top 10 opponents (1-3 this year). His lone Top 10 win came over No. 10 Bublik in Dubai 2R before giving a walkover in the final vs. Medvedev due to a left hamstring injury sustained in the semifinals.

READ: Ben Shelton isn’t fazed by being defending NBO champ

[Q] Titouan Droguet vs. [2] Felix Auger-Aliassime  – This is the second meeting between the two and FAA won the previous encounter 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1 in the semifinals of Montpellier in February en route to the title. The 25-year-old French qualifier is looking for his first career Top 10 victory (0-1) and trying to break into the Top 100 for the first time.  Reached a career-high No. 107 on May 25 and came into Montreal ranked No. 119. Felix enters with a 30-14 record (15-6 on hard) on the season and a personal-high No. 4 ranking. He is coming off back-to-back quarterfinal showings at Roland-Garros (l. to Cobolli) and Wimbledon (l. to Djokovic in five sets).

 [12] Learner Tien vs. [WC] Gael Monfils – This is the first meeting between the 20-year-old American and 39-year-old Frenchman. Monfils is making his 15th and final appearance in Canada and he is a two-time NBO semifinalist (2016, 2019). He comes in with a 25-13  tournament record and is one of nine players to register at least 25 wins at the NBO. Tien is ranked No. 19 and one of four Americans in the Top 20 along with No. 8 Fritz, No. 10 Shelton and No. 20 Tiafoe. Coached by former World No. 2 Michael Chang, who won the NBO title in Toronto in 1990.

Photo: Mathieu Bélanger