British number two Cameron Norrie secured his place in the Canadian Open last 32 with a 6-3 6-3 straight-set victory over Peruvian number 33 Ignacio Buse in Montreal. Norrie advanced after a one-hour and 29-minute match at the IGA Stadium, setting up a second-round meeting with Australian world number seven Alex de Minaur.
The hard-court clash at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers on August 5, 2026, saw Cameron Norrie maintain his momentum following a recent semifinal run at the Los Cabos Open. Facing a younger opponent who had previously been more proficient on clay, the Brit delivered in the key moments to break early and navigate a medical timeout from his opponent.
How Cameron Norrie Overcame Ignacio Buse in Montreal
At the first opportunity, Norrie broke Buse and served out to claim the opening set. The Peruvian 29th seed fought back when his first break drew the second set level to 2-2, but Norrie immediately broke back and saved three break points in the following service game.
Buse, who needed a medical timeout during the match, could not recover the deficit. Norrie closed out the contest with his second match point, finishing the straight-set win 6-3 6-3 in one hour and 29 minutes at the IGA Stadium in Montreal.
Recent Form and the Road to the Second Round
The victory continues a positive stretch for Norrie, who ended a six-match losing streak with a run to the Los Cabos Open semifinals just a week prior. After defeating Camilo Ugo Carabelli in his opening match in Montreal—narrowly edging a 7-6 6-4 win according to pre-match reporting—the Brit advanced to face another South American opponent in Buse.
While Buse entered the tournament riding high in a breakthrough season at age 22, analysts noted that the Peruvian sat just four places behind Norrie in the rankings but naturally favored clay over hard courts. Norrie leveraged his high-energy style and resilience to handle the surface transition.
Next Up: A Showdown With Alex de Minaur
With a spot in the round of 32 secured, Norrie turns his attention to a formidable next opponent. He will face Australian world number seven Alex de Minaur.
De Minaur arrives in strong form, having married British number two Katie Boulter in July and preparing to play doubles with her at the upcoming U.S. Open. The second-round encounter pits Norrie against one of the tour’s most consistent baseline competitors as the tournament in Montreal progresses.
Broader Canadian Open Context: Defending Champion Withdraws
While the men’s draw moves forward in Montreal, the tournament’s broader landscape has been impacted by high-profile withdrawals on the women’s side. Reigning women’s singles champion Victoria Mboko pulled out of the event due to a knee injury.
The 19-year-old Canadian confirmed she injured her medial collateral ligament after slipping awkwardly while facing Karolina Pliskova at the Queen’s Club Championships in June. The injury forced Mboko to withdraw from her doubles quarter-final alongside 23-times Grand Slam champion Serena Williams, as well as miss the entire grass-court season and Wimbledon.
Mboko noted that the U.S. Open tune-up event meant everything to her
. The Canadian Open runs from August 2-13, with the women’s tournament unfolding as players navigate injuries and build toward the final Grand Slam of the season.
