INTRIGUING results littered the opening day of National Bank Open proceedings, with a number of tight clashes setting the tone and none of the seeds taking part on day one.

Neither of the hometown Canadian hopefuls made it through the opening day, as qualifier Brayden Schnur fell to Lloyd Harris 6-3 6-2, unable to weather the South African’s nine aces and 78 per cent win rate off his first serve, as wildcard Vasek Pospisil went down in three to American qualifier Tommy Paul, who required two hours and 21 minutes to do so.

Two Australian-American clashes went down with each going the opposite way, as Paul was joined in the second round by Reilly Opelka who overcame a first set deficit to Australian fan favourite Nick Kyrgios to claim the three set victory, 4-6 7-6(4) 6-4 in just under two hours, while Taylor Fritz was relegated to the sidelines following a straight sets loss to qualifier James Duckworth. John Millman joined Duckworth in the second round, after overcoming qualifier Ricardas Berankis 6-3 7-6(4), as the Lithuanian kept in tough throughout the second set to force the tiebreaker despite Millman holding two match points at 5-4 in the second set.

Alexander Bublik and Daniel Evans engaged in an interesting matchup, which saw the Kazakh retain control to post the 6-4 6-4 victory in one hour and 41 minutes. While Bublik hit as many double faults as he did aces (eight apiece), he won an impressive 86 per cent of points off his first serve and allowed just the one break point against him as he outlasted Evans.

“Obviously winning in straight sets is great. I kept my nerve after I lost the first break,” Bublik said post-match. “[I then] served better, maybe [got] a bit lucky in some points because Dan is a tricky player, he comes in so much. “The key was to pass him in the right moment and I guess I did it well.”

Elsewhere, Marin Cilic got off to a solid start and weathered the storm that is Albert Ramos-Vinolas to claim a second round berth, as Italian Fabio Fognini overcame German Jan-Lennard Struff 6-7(2) 6-2 6-4 and Frenchman Ugo Humbert joined the winners list with a 6-3 6-4 victory over Fognini’s compatriot Lorenzo Sonego.

NATIONAL BANK OPEN ROUND OF 64 RESULTS: 

Lloyd Harris (RSA) defeated [Q] Brayden Schnur (CAN) 6-3 6-2
Alexander Bublik (KAZ) defeated Daniel Evans (GBR) 6-4 6-4
Marin Cilic (CRO) defeated Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) 6-2 4-6 6-3
[Q] James Duckworth (AUS) defeated Taylor Fritz (USA) 7-6 6-3
Fabio Fognini (ITA) defeated Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) 6-7 6-2 6-4
Ugo Humbert (FRA) defeated Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) 6-3 6-4
[Q] Tommy Paul (USA) defeated [WC] Vasek Pospisil (CAN) 6-7 6-2 6-3
John Millman (AUS) defeated [Q] Ricardas Berankis (LTU) 6-3 7-6
Reilly Opelka (USA) defeated [WC] Nick Kyrgios (AUS) 4-6 7-6 6-4

Picture credit: Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images