Tien L. beat Monfils G. 6-3, 0-6, 6-3 in Montreal in a three-setter defined by swings in serving form. Tien recovered from a second-set bagel with a decisive third set, landing 74% of first serves while Monfils managed just 19%.
Tien took the opener by breaking in game seven for 4-3 and again in game nine to seal it 6-3. Monfils flipped the script in the second set, breaking three times and running off six straight games. In the decider, Monfils broke at 0-1, Tien answered immediately at 1-1, and another break at 4-2 put Tien in control.
The decider told the story: Tien won 20 service points to Monfils's 12, and his first serve fired at 74%. Overall Monfils won more total points, 89-86, but Tien saved 9 of 13 break points to get over the line.