Shapovalov Shocked in Second Round at National Bank Open

BREAKING: Canadian tennis star Denis Shapovalov suffered a stunning upset in the second round of the National Bank Open, falling to American Learner Tien in a fierce battle at Sobeys Stadium on August 7, 2025. The match concluded with a score of 7-6 (4), 7-5, leaving fans stunned as Shapovalov was unable to capitalize on key service opportunities.

Shapovalov, seeded 22nd and hailing from Richmond Hill, Ontario, had chances to serve out both sets but was broken by Tien during critical moments. The one-hour and thirty-four-minute showdown saw Shapovalov struggle with eight double-faults while managing to win just 67 percent of points on his first serve.

The upset is particularly shocking given the strong performances of seeded players earlier in the day. Third-seeded Lorenzo Musetti of Italy cruised past Australian qualifier James Duckworth with a decisive 7-5, 6-1 victory, while Holger Rune from Denmark overcame Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard of France in a nail-biting match ending at 7-6 (7), 6-3. Rune remarked, “Very tricky first match for me because he’s a big server and there wasn’t a lot of rhythm in the match.”

Meanwhile, wild-card entry Nicolas Arseneault, also from Richmond Hill, was eliminated after losing to defending champion and No. 18 seed Alexei Popyrin of Australia, with a score of 7-6 (7), 6-3.

In other matches, No. 11 seed Karen Khachanov defeated Argentine qualifier Juan Pablo Ficovich 6-4, 6-2, and 26th-seeded American Alex Michelsen secured a win against Chilean qualifier Tomas Barrios Vera 7-6 (7), 6-3. French player Alexandre Muller, seeded 29th, triumphed over Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic with a score of 2-6, 6-3, 7-5.

As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on top-seeded Alex Zverev from Germany, who is set to face Australia’s Adam Walton in the late match. The excitement continues as play at this prestigious Masters 1000 tournament runs through August 7.

This shocking defeat for Shapovalov highlights the unpredictable nature of tennis and underscores the rising talents competing at this year’s National Bank Open. Stay tuned for further updates as the tournament progresses and more matches unfold.