Montreal, Court 5 at the IGA Stadium complex: what began as a straightforward afternoon for young Spaniard Pablo Llamas Ruiz turned into a remarkable comeback story for American Marcos Andrés Girón. The final scoreline of 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 tells the story of a match played on outdoor hardcourt that swung completely on its axis after the opening set.
Llamas Ruiz seizes control
The 23-year-old Pablo Llamas Ruiz, seeded 23rd in qualifying, came out of the blocks at full throttle. On a surface that may not be his preferred clay, the Spaniard operated with striking assurance — breaking his opponent's serve early and building on his lead methodically. With a first-serve percentage of 59, Llamas Ruiz kept Girón under constant pressure and converted 33 percent of his break points. The opening set fell comfortably to the Spaniard 6-2, and with good reason: Llamas Ruiz had already claimed the Challenger title in Alicante this year and reached the third round of a Masters 1000 event at the Italian Open as a qualifier.
Girón flips the match — a display of dominance
But Girón, seeded third in qualifying, rediscovered his game after dropping the first set. The Californian, whose only ATP Tour title came at the 2024 Hall of Fame Open, now took command through his serve: he held in 75 percent of his service games over the remainder of the match and converted an impressive 83 percent of his break points, punishing every opportunity that came his way. In the second set Girón dropped just three games — 6-3. The third set became a statement: 6-1 to the American, who gave Llamas Ruiz virtually no room to breathe.
The break point defence figures were equally telling. While Girón saved 67 percent of the break points he faced, Llamas Ruiz's resistance in the second and third sets simply caved under the pressure of the more experienced opponent. Overall, Girón won 51 percent of all points — a narrow margin in raw numbers, but one that belied the comprehensive manner in which he eventually controlled the match.
A first meeting and a look ahead
Notably, it was the first ATP Tour meeting between the two players. Llamas Ruiz, who had suffered a defeat in Vancouver immediately before Montreal, was unable to sustain the form that had carried him to a career-high ranking of world No. 122 in May 2026 over the full distance of three sets. Girón, by contrast, sent a message. After a mixed run of just five wins from his previous ten matches — most recently a defeat to Cruz Hewitt at the Citi Open in Washington — the American announced his return to form in emphatic fashion. By advancing to the next round of qualifying, he keeps his hopes of a main-draw spot at one of the season's most prestigious hardcourt events very much alive.
