Twenty-seven year-old Chilean player Tomas Barrios Vera saved four match points in his 6-4 4-6 7-6 (7-3) win over Frenchman Gael Monfils in the first round match of the Masters 1000 in Toronto.
Monfils converted his fourth break point in the second game and held serve at 30 to open up a 3-0 lead. Barrios Vera won six of the next seven games including two breaks of serve to seal the first set 6-4.
Monfils rallied from a set and a break down as he was playing for the 14th time in his career at the Canadian Masters 1000 tournament. Monfils broke twice to win the second set 6-4 drawing the match level to 1-1.
Barrios Vera fended two match points with his baseline play at 4-5 before saving two more break points at 5-6 with an unreturned serve and an ace.
Barrios Vera set up a second round match against 20-year-old US player Alex Michelsen.
“I don’t know to be real. I saved many match points in the [third] set. It was super tight. I just tried to fight every point. In these conditions, it’s super hot and fast, I tried to serve very well and win many points on return”, said Barrios Vera.
US 19-old Learner Tien beat his compatriot Colton Smith 6-4 7-5 in his debut at the Canadian Masters 1000 tournament. Tien dropped his serve when he was attempting to serve out the match at 5-4 in the second set. Tien bounced back by winning eight of the next nine points to win the second set 7-5.
