Daniel Merida Aguilar was scheduled to face Alex Michelsen on Friday no earlier than 18:30 in the National Bank Open round of sixteen, with the ATP1000 de Montreal setting up a live match update that quickly became a tight contest.
The Spanish player made the brighter start, taking the first set 6-4 and then breaking Michelsen’s serve again in the second. That gave Merida Aguilar control early on, but the live updates showed the momentum was still alive, with Michelsen later moving ahead 3-2.
Merida Aguilar struck first
The opening set was a useful indicator of how competitive this match could be. Merida Aguilar took it 6-4, which meant Michelsen was immediately under pressure to respond in the second.
When Merida Aguilar broke serve again, it looked as though he had found the right pattern. But Michelsen’s recovery kept the contest balanced, and the live score reaching 3-2 underlined how little could be taken for granted.
A match that stayed alive
This was always likely to be a live contest rather than a straightforward walk-through, and the scoreline reflected that. The first-set lead gave Merida Aguilar the edge, while Michelsen’s ability to fight back suggested the momentum could still swing either way.
With the match unfolding in Montreal on Friday evening, the key question was whether Merida Aguilar could hold on to the early advantage or whether Michelsen would turn his improved position into a full comeback.
