Coco Gauff secured her first win since claiming the French Open title by narrowly defeating Danielle Collins in the second round of the National Bank Open on Tuesday night. The American overcame a difficult serving performance marked by 23 double faults to prevail 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7-2) in a match that lasted nearly three hours in Montreal.

Coming off her first-round exit at Wimbledon, Gauff appeared to have adjusted her serving grip during her break from competition. This change seemed to affect her consistency, resulting in a number of errant serves, some that sailed long and others that were weak enough for Collins to capitalize on with aggressive returns. Despite the challenges, Gauff ultimately managed to close the match with a well-placed ace.

Match Challenges and Serving Issues Highlight Gauff’s Performance

Gauff admitted the match was frustrating, reflecting on her inability to fully translate practice into match play.

“It was a frustrating match for me,”

Gauff said.

“I felt like I was practising well and then I don’t think I transferred it today, but hopefully I got my bad match of the tournament out of the way and I can come back stronger in the next round.”

Her serving difficulties mirrored those from last year’s U.S. Open, where 19 double faults contributed to her fourth-round loss against Emma Navarro. Tuesday’s outing saw an even higher count of double faults, marking an area for improvement as she continues in the tournament as the top seed following Aryna Sabalenka’s withdrawal.

Gauff’s victory sets up a third-round meeting with Veronika Kudermetova. Despite the extended duration of Tuesday’s match, Gauff remains confident in her fitness and hinted at the potential to shorten match time significantly if she sharpens her serve.

“I felt that I was playing well except that part of my game,”

Gauff explained.

“But I felt like off the ground I was playing pretty well.”

Leylah Fernandez Critiques Scheduling After Early Exit in Montreal

Meanwhile, Canadian star Leylah Fernandez expressed dissatisfaction with the National Bank Open’s scheduling following her first-round loss on Tuesday. Just two days after capturing the title in Washington, Fernandez was defeated 6-4, 6-1 by Australia’s Maya Joint in a brief 75-minute match.

Fernandez had hoped for more recovery time between tournaments, citing assurances she would compete in a night session to allow for additional rest. However, she learned during travel that her match would be held earlier, limiting her recovery window.

“That hurt me because I was very looking forward to be playing at night, but I guess it’s a little bit political issues at that point.”

Top Seeds Zverev, Rune, and Musetti Advance in Montreal

In other Canadian Open action, top-seeded Alexander Zverev marked his return from a Wimbledon upset with a 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 win over Adam Walton. Zverev, who holds the No. 3 ATP ranking but entered Montreal as the tournament’s top seed after withdrawals from Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, acknowledged his ongoing effort to regain form.

“I’m trying to find ways to kind of get out of this hole. I keep kind of finding myself back in it in a way,”

Zverev said, reflecting on recent challenges.

“It was a very important moment and a very important point for me. I was lucky to get through in the first set and then finish it off in two.”

Other top seeds advancing included third-seeded Lorenzo Musetti, who defeated Australian qualifier James Duckworth 7-5, 6-1, and fifth-ranked Holger Rune, who overcame Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 7-6 (9-7), 6-3 on a warm afternoon.

High seed competitors such as Casper Ruud, Daniil Medvedev, Karen Khachanov, Francisco Cerundolo, and defending champion Alexei Popyrin also moved forward, while Reilly Opelka pulled off an upset against Tomas Machac. The tournament’s overall field was affected by notable withdrawals, including Jack Draper and Novak Djokovic.

Looking Ahead: Gauff’s Prospects Following Tough Win

Gauff’s Canadian Open win is significant as it marks her first match victory since the Roland Garros final and highlights her resilience despite service struggles. As the top seed in Montreal, she carries momentum from her recent Grand Slam success even as she seeks to regain full confidence in her serve. Her next encounter against Veronika Kudermetova will test whether she can maintain her level and improve her service game to advance deeper into this Masters 1000 event.

With the tournament underway, attention will also focus on other leading players working through their draws as the US Open approaches, adding further intrigue to the North American hard-court season.