Poor start, strong response
It could hardly have begun worse for Mariano Navone. In the first set of their second-round encounter at the ATP Masters 1000 National Bank Open in Montreal, the Argentine was barely able to get a foothold against 14th-seeded Valentin Vacherot — or rather, Vacherot gave him none. The Monégasque dominated the opening set from start to finish, claiming it comfortably 6:1. Navone looked unsettled, unable to find his rhythm on the hardcourt and appeared clearly outgunned by the more experienced opponent in the early going.
Then came the turning point. Drawing on the defensive resilience and consistency that have become his trademarks, Navone fought his way back into the match. In the second set he gradually took control from the baseline, converted his break points more efficiently — finishing with a 57 per cent conversion rate across the match — and gave Vacherot little opportunity to impose his game. Navone took the second set 6:3 to force a deciding set.
Navone holds firm in the third
The momentum stayed with Navone. In the deciding third set the 25-year-old held serve solidly — winning 75 per cent of his service games — while keeping the pressure on Vacherot's serve. The Monégasque, whose first-serve percentage of 71 per cent was merely adequate, saved one match point but could not claw back the deficit. Navone remained clinical when it mattered and closed out the third set 6:3 as well.
The statistics explain why Vacherot lost despite hitting seven aces and winning 63 per cent of points on his first serve: his return game let him down badly, with the Monégasque winning just 38 per cent of return points compared to Navone's 42 per cent. Navone also saved 57 per cent of the break points Vacherot created — a decisive figure in a tight three-set contest.
Navone marches on, Vacherot exits
For Navone, it was already his second win in Montreal following his opening-round win over Matteo Berrettini — and another chapter in an impressive season that peaked in April with his ATP title in Bucharest. The victory sends the Argentine into the third round of one of the most prestigious hardcourt events of the year.
Vacherot, meanwhile, departs Montreal at his very first appearance at this tournament. The Monégasque, who had celebrated strong results in Monte-Carlo earlier this season, was unable to convert his commanding first-set performance into a match win. A hardcourt absence of more than four months since his last hard-court match in Miami was likely a contributing factor — a circumstance that was ruthlessly exposed as the match wore on.
