In Toronto, several exciting matches are scheduled for Friday, notably featuring the contest between Arthur Fils and Jiri Lehecka, alongside Andrey Rublev and Lorenzo Sonego as they vie for spots in the last 16 of the Masters 1000 tournament.
Arthur Fils is set to play for the first time since suffering a back injury that kept him sidelined after Roland Garros. His early performance at the National Bank Open shows promise, highlighted by a recent 6-3, 6-4 victory over 2022 champion Pablo Carreno Busta. This marks Fils’ first match back, and as the 21st-ranked Frenchman faces the 27th-ranked Lehecka, he takes confidence from their previous encounter during the 2024 Davis Cup, where Fils emerged victorious in a tightly contested match.
On the other hand, Lehecka, known for his inconsistency this year despite a strong start, poses a tougher challenge than Carreno Busta. However, Fils’ recent match play suggests he may have the edge as he looks to continue building his momentum.
In another highlight, Rublev and Sonego will meet for the sixth time, with Rublev currently leading their series 3-2. Their most recent showdown saw Rublev victorious, and as they face off again, the conditions in Toronto are expected to favor Rublev’s style of play. Sonego, while showing flashes of brilliance this season, has had a mixed year, but he opened his tournament with a strong win against Bu Yunchaokete.
Both matches present intriguing dynamics, particularly as players seek pivotal victories to advance deeper into the tournament. Fans can look forward to a thrilling day of tennis in Toronto.