Tsitsipas sets up Fonseca clash after dominant first-round win at Montreal Masters

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/damm-m-vX7WOXtP/tsitsipas-s-hb6oWfc6/?mid=Y17Z78O0"]The 98-minute first-round win[/a] sends [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tsitsipas-stefanos/hb6oWfc6/"]Tsitsipas[/a] into a match with Brazilian [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fonseca-joao/tv073LUc/"]Joao Fonseca[/a].[/p][p]The 53rd-ranked Tsitsipas, winner last month in Gstaad, said that a coaching change -- he split from his father Apostolos for a second time - is paying off now that he is under the guidance of coaches from Patrick Mouratoglou's French academy.[/p][p][b]"It's a chapter that should have started a long time ago," [/b]Tsitsipas said. "I guess I was too patient with my time and too nice with handling certain things, to take so much time to proceed with the change. But it's how life works."[/p][p]"Certain things come at a certain time, I'm very Buddhist in that sort of philosophy.[/p][p][b]"Now we are here, and we are doing it the way I like it. I want it to be done. I want it to be done with a coach that I am happy with right now ... someone that I trust."[/b][/p][embed guid="d3dfc428-b12e-444b-acab-3dd3a0f57244" url="https://x.com/TennisTV/status/2084685213016146146" social-type="twitter" /][p]The Greek claimed the opening set against Damm and came back from a break down in the second to earn a 5-2 lead and the chance to serve it out.[/p][p]But the Czech managed to break back, forcing Tsitsipas to clinch victory two games later on a forehand winner.[/p][p][b]"I need to focus and concentrate, and that's what I was trying to do out there today, trying to keep it locked in as much as I could and not let any distractions get in the way," [/b]Tsitsipas, 27, said.[/p][p]"Tennis is about milliseconds, getting properly behind the ball and being constantly well positioned. I need to focus on how to do that in the best possible way.[/p][p][b]"I felt in control up two breaks, but things got tough. I have nothing to regret, I was able to fight my way through the match. I took a good grip to close it out."[/b][/p][embed guid="621a800f-932a-4927-9812-20024d3528f3" url="https://x.com/TennisTV/status/2084667847125479909" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hurkacz-hubert/zuHOBnY9/"]Hubert Hurkacz[/a] a 2022 finalist in Montreal who is coming back from a knee injury suffered at Wimbledon, returned with a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/giron-m-OWOgryOk/hurkacz-h-zuHOBnY9/?mid=WE8KgI3j"]7-5, 4-6, 6-2[/a] win over Marcos Giron.[/p][p]Britain's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fearnley-jacob/pGBaKGOn/"]Jakob Fearnley[/a], who reached the final of a hard court Challenger last month, advanced past French veteran [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mannarino-adrian/fLOdtByM/"]Adrian Mannarino[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/fearnley-j-pGBaKGOn/mannarino-a-fLOdtByM/?mid=GbnfSxAF"]7-6 (7/3), 6-4[/a], overcoming more than 30 unforced errors to book a meeting with 13th seeded Czech Jakub Mensik.[/p]