TORONTO — Britain’s Andy Murray started his journey for a fourth National Bank Open title by defeating Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego in two sets, winning 7-6 (3), 6-0 on Tuesday.
Murray, who secured titles in 2009, 2010 and 2015, saved two set points and clinched the first set against Sonego in a 90-minute battle. The three-time Grand Slam champion then swiftly dominated the second set against the Italian.
Murray is set to next face Australia’s Max Purcell on Wednesday.
Purcell defeated Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 6-4. Purcell, who entered the tournament as a qualifier, had eight aces to just one double fault. He also broke on two of his four chances.
The Aussie defeated Canadians Peter Polansky and Brayden Schnur — both in straight sets — to make it into the main draw.
Canada’s Gabriel Diallo won his first ATP Tour level match, defeating Great Britain’s Dan Evans 7-6 (4), 7-5 to advance to the second round.
He never fell behind in the match, although he went through a back-and-forth first set that saw him consistently have to keep Evans at bay. He picked up set point on an Evans double fault.
“Obviously it’s my first ATP win, and of course doing it at home in Toronto, it means the world,” Diallo said. “So I would say this is individually my best accomplishment so far.”
Diallo will face Australia’s Alex De Minaur in the second round. The Aussie defeated 11th-seeded Brit Cameron Norrie 7-5, 6-4 earlier Tuesday.
Earlier in the day, American Sebastian Korda easily dispatched Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3, 6-2.
In first-round men’s doubles action, Vasek Pospisil of Canada and partner Nicolas Mahut of France defeated Canadians Kelsey Stevenson and Benjamin Sigouin 7-5, 6-4 to advance.
The Canadian pairing of Adil Shamasdin and Peter Polansky also was bounced, falling 6-3, 6-2 to Germany’s Tim Puetz and Kevin Krawietz.