How many cakes did you receive on your last birthday? One? Maybe two? When you’re Roger Federer, birthday parties never ends.

Federer admitted he received five cakes prior to taking in a Coldplay concert at Montreal’s Bell Centre, where lead singer Chris Martin gave him a birthday shout out. The Swiss superstar reflected on a memorable 36th birthday after securing his place in the Coupe Rogers third round on Wednesday afternoon.

“The thing is that they are big cakes, and you have to eat them during the week,” said Federer, smiling. “It’s good I’m doing some sport this week.

“It was quite a calm day yesterday. I spent my day with my team [and] I just practised here for a while… Yesterday evening, we had a meal all together, and we went to see Coldplay. It was very nice, a very nice day.”

Bob Bryan, Mike Bryan, Lucas Pouille, Matthew Ebden and Nicholas Monroe also made the trip to watch the British rock band.

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Federer, who will reunite with his family at next week’s Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati next week, experienced no headache on Wednesday. Competing in Montreal for the first time in six years, he defeated Canadian wild card Peter Polansky 6-2, 6-1 in his first match since capturing his 19th Grand Slam championships crown at Wimbledon on 16 July.

The two-time former champion, in 2004 (d. Roddick) and 2006 (d. Gasquet), will next face American No. 15 seed Jack Sock or former World No. 3 David Ferrer, the 2014 semi-finalist, in the third round.

“I started the first set well. In the second set, I was able to put pressure on him and he helped me with somedouble faults, of course. Overall, I’m very satisfied with the match. The conditions were tough here in Montreal. There was a lot of wind today and it was fast. Sometimes it’s difficult to find the rhythm.

“But I was happy that I was very focused on my service games. I was aggressive. This is how I want to play for the whole week. Anyway, it’s a good start.”

Federer lost just three points on serve against World No. 117 Polansky in the 21-minute opener and won seven straight games from a 4-2 lead in the first set. After the match, Polansky collected up all the tennis balls and put them in his bag as a souvenir.

“The crowd support was great,” Federer added. “It wasn’t the closest match today. But they were there for Peter when he needed them and he hit good shots, when they realized he was struggling. I thought that was really nice.

“And for me, they were there every step of the way. So I felt that, as well, which is actually good to see… Maybe that’s also why I always put this as one of my favourite tournaments, favourite centre courts out there, because they show up in big numbers, they show up with excitement and passion. For us to play here, it’s very inspiring.” 

Second seed Federer is now 32-2 on the season, which includes an ATP World Tour leading five trophies, and with no Emirates ATP Rankings to defend will soon be in contention for a return to No. 1.

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Canadian wild card Denis Shapovalov recorded one of the biggest wins of his fledgling career on Wednesday at the Coupe Rogers.

The 18-year-old #NextGenATP knocked out former World No. 4 Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 7-6(4) to become the youngest player in the last 16 of an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament since Rafael Nadal, 17, at the 2004 Miami Open presented by Itau.

“He’s my idol,” Shapovalov said of Del Potro. “First of all, just to play against him, it’s a huge honour for me. But to beat a player of this category, of this talent, it’s very inspiring and a huge confidence boost… It’s got to be one of my best wins. Has to be.

“He’s got massive weapons. But I felt like I was returning really well today. When I could get my racquet on it, I was putting a lot of them back. I think that put a little bit of pressure on him in the end. To break him at 5-all, he served a double fault. In the tie-break, I was getting a lot of serves back and he shanked a couple forehands. I think I did a good job of that.”

The result means that Shapovalov moves up from No. 11 to No. 9 in the Emirates ATP Race To Milan, vying for one of the seven coveted places at the 21-and-under Next Gen ATP Finals, to be held from 7-11 November. Learn More & Buy Tickets

Shapovalov will next face top seed and three-time former champion Rafael Nadal, bidding to return to No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, or Croatian and fellow #NextGenATP Borna Coric.

Shapovalov was handed a 6-5 lead in the second set, when del Potro struck a double fault, but his Argentinean opponent immediately regrouped by forcing three errors and went on to lead 3/1 in the tie-break. Shapovalov capitalised on del Potro’s lack of forehand potency to win five straight points. He closed out his second tour-level match win of 2017 with a forehand volley winner much to the delight of ice hockey great Wayne Gretzky, who watched the one-hour and 44-minute encounter unfold.

“I’ve never played in an atmosphere like this. It was so loud. On match point, when I hit that double, right before it, I mean, my ears almost popped. They were cheering so loud, it was insane.

“It’s just so much fun to be out there, to be part of this atmosphere. I feel very privileged to be a part of this tournament.”

World No. 143 Shapovalov whose goal is to break into the Top 100 of the Emirates ATP Rankings by the end of the year, has won two ATP Challenge Tour titles in Canada this season at Drummondville and Gatineau.

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Gael Monfils produced a mesmerising moment of magic in storming back to upset Kei Nishikori at the Coupe Rogers on Wednesday. Monfils saved four match points – including two with clutch, spectacular hot shots – in a deciding set tie-break, rallying for a stunning 6-7(4), 7-5, 7-6(6) victory.

It marked the first time Monfils had come from a set down against a Top 10 opponent in seven years and just the third time in his career (3-62). A semi-finalist last year in Toronto, he improved to 13-7 overall at the Canadian ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event.

Monfils was a hot shot machine with his back against the wall on a sunny Wednesday afternoon, energising the Montreal faithful with forehand and backhand winners from the most improbable of angles. Earlier in the third set he produced back-to-back hot shots to break back when Nishikori served for the match.

But the Frenchman trumped that effort trailing 3/6 in the tie-break when, after a lung-busting rally, he nailed a down-the-line backhand that kissed the sideline and drew a standing ovation from raucous fans. Moments later Monfils muscled a down-the-line forehand winner from deep behind the baseline to stave off his fourth consecutive match point. (Watch below.)

“It’s a good victory for many reasons,” said Monfils. “It’s a big revenge, because last year around this time I had the same thing actually against Kei. I was up 6/2 in the tie-break in the Olympics in the quarter-finals and I lost the tie-break. So I know exactly what he feels.

“Actually last year, as well, a bit before, I played him in Miami. I also had five match points and I lost it 7-6 in the third. I’m more than happy because I fought through the toughness, because it was tough for me. It was a bit like a rollercoaster. I was a break down in each set.”

The pair split the first two sets and with Nishikori serving at 5-3 30/30 in the decider, Monfils laced consecutive pulsating winners to earn a dramatic break back. After being stretched side to side by an attacking Nishikori, Monfils looped an inch-perfect lob over his head for a winner. He then clocked a clean forehand winner down the line to secure the break.

In the deciding tie-break, Nishikori looked to be in command once again, extending his lead to 5/2 with a drop shot winner. He held four straight match points at 6/2, but Monfils would not be denied his moment in the spotlight. A backhand winner saved the second and a forehand winner turned aside the fourth. In front of an electric atmosphere on Banque Nationale Court, Monfils converted the first match point of his own with a forehand winner down the line.

In total, Nishikori won more points (116-108), but it was the Frenchman who was clutch in the big moments. He fired 28 winners, including 19 on his forehand wing to prevail after two hours and 41 minutes. He will next face 12th-seed Roberto Bautista Agut in Thursday’s third round. Bautista Agut dismissed Ryan Harrison 7-5, 6-2 earlier on Wednesday.

“I needed courage and a lot of luck,” Monfils added. “Matches like this depend on luck also. As I said, in the second set, he started off better than I did. It took time for me to get into it after the first set. I was able to play at a higher level at 5-2. The same thing happened in the third set. Now, for the last points, I needed to be brave and also have some luck – a lot of luck.”

The victory was Monfils’ first in his FedEx ATP Head2Head series against Nishikori, improving to 1-3. It was the third straight meeting decided in a third-set tie-break, with the Japanese most recently prevailing at both the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in Miami and the Rio Olympics last year. Nishikori owns the best career record in deciding sets according to the FedEx ATP Performance Zone, boasting a 112-35 win-loss record.

Monfils’ win also extends the theme of players saving four match points this week in Montreal. #NextGenATP Canadian Denis Shapovalov did so in defeating Rogerio Dutra Silva on Tuesday, as well as Diego Schwartzman in stunning third seed Dominic Thiem in the night session.

In other action, seventh seed Grigor Dimitrov set a third-round encounter with Robin Haase after securing a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win over Mischa Zverev. The Bulgarian, who reached the semi-finals in Toronto in 2014 and quarter-finals there last year, needed one hour and 39 minutes to oust his German opponent. He will face Haase for the third time, having won both their meetings in 2014 – in Indian Wells and Brisbane. The Dutchman earned his place in the third round with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Ernesto Escobedo.

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What’s been the secret to Denis Shapovalov’s success in Quebec this season? “Maybe it’s the poutine,” said the Canadian with a laugh of the Quebecois dish, ahead of the Coupe Rogers. 

The 18 year old won 13 straight matches in the Canadian province, picking up a pair of ATP Challenger titles in Drummondville and Gatineau, before the run came to an end last week in the Grandby semi-finals (l. to Polansky). On Tuesday afternoon in Montreal, with Wayne Gretzky watching from his box, Shapovalov collected another W in Quebec as he saved four match points en route to victory over Rogerio Dutra Silva on Court Central.

“It’s pretty crazy, the Challengers that I’ve won have been in home in Canada,” said Shapovalov. “Obviously the support has a really good effect on me. My best results have been at home, and it’s thanks to the crowd and thanks to the people that are helping me out, getting me ready at home, just giving me that extra little bit of court time. I love playing at home and I always feel like I bring my best game here.”

Case in point, last year’s Rogers Cup in Toronto provided the stage for his first tour-level win. Shapovalov, who grew up watching and attending this ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament, requested to play on Centre Court in his main draw debut and delivered a 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-3 upset over No. 11 seed Nick Kyrgios in the opening round.

“It was huge for me… I didn’t expect to win obviously,” he said. “I think in the first set he might’ve been taking me a little bit lightly, but I stuck with him and it turned out to be an unbelievable match. I remember that feeling when I won and the roar of the crowd. It was an unforgettable moment for me, and I’ve taken that everywhere I go, that confidence, just the thought that I could be there and I’ve played better since.”

Federer remembers watching Shapovalov play in the Wimbledon juniors and also had a chance to practise with the teen a few years ago in Toronto, when he needed a lefty for a hitting partner. “He came out, had these big shots, great sliding serve and a lot of different types of shots, and I like to see that,” said the Swiss. “I’m a big fan of his, and I’m sure we’re going to see a lot of Denis in the future.”

Shapovalov had set a goal earlier this year of reaching the Top 150 of the Emirates ATP Rankings, but is now aiming higher – Top 100 – with his recent success pushing him to a career-high No. 130 in July. He also has his sights set on the inaugural Next Gen ATP Finals, which will feature the top 21-and-under singles players on the ATP World Tour. Shapovalov entered Montreal at No. 11 in the Emirates ATP Race to Milan.

“With the two past weeks with the Challengers I’ve really made a push for it. I think I’m sitting [around] No. 10 right now, so I’m really close to getting in,” he said. “Honestly it’d be a great privilege to go and play that… I hope at the end of the year I can be a part of it.”

A relaxed Nick Kyrgios is taking it all in his stride this week, agreeing to hit with a Twitter fan in a fun-filled practice session in Montreal on Tuesday before playing a game of horse with fellow Australian Matt Reid. The 16th seed at for the Coupe Rogers has struggled with hip and right shoulder injuries since 30 May.

But he has been at ease from the outset this week. He landed his first match win in more than two months on Monday with a comprehensive defeat of Serbian Viktor Troicki. And the fun, it appeared, didn’t stop there for the Australian. The latest spontaneous turn of events came about when a fan, Mathieu Marshall, tweeted Kyrgios on Saturday.

“@NickKyrgios I’m at rogers cup on tuesday, I know this is a long shot but could we hit for 5 minutes if you’re practicing? That’d be dope!” Marshall tweeted. Kyrgios was quick to reply.

“Sure, hit me up when u there,” he tweeted. The move drew plenty of love in the Twittersphere as Kyrgios followed up with a further offer.

“Also anyone at rogers cup throughout the week can come on my practice court and chill and hit if u want,” he tweeted. True to his word, Kyrgios hit with the fan during a practice session on Tuesday.

Sure, hit me up when u there https://t.co/Kxn8MAo3NN

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) August 6, 2017

“I tweeted you – I didn’t know what would happen!” @NickKyrgios is a man of his word, hitting with the fan who contacted him on Twitter pic.twitter.com/h1J93zvMv2

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 8, 2017

“Yeah I think it’s fun. To have a big following, I never dreamed of that as a little kid, people actually wanting to come and watch me play or wanting to hang out so obviously when I’m out here playing some tennis, if they want to have a hit, I’m more than happy to bring them on and just have some fun,” Kyrgios said.

“He had his racquet and he was ready to go. He was on the side of the court, he said ‘Nick you owe my five minutes’. He was pretty direct. I was like ‘man, come on whenever you want’ and we had a lot of fun today.

“He was pretty good as well. I actually used it as a bit of training. It’s always fun, if I’m able to make someone’s day even for five minutes then I’m happy to do it.”

After later losing a practice set against his countryman, Reid, Kyrgios nervously crouched in the ‘tuck position’, for a game of horse. Reid unleashed three serves with the third hitting the bullseye, clocking Kyrgios square and centre.

It sent him sprawling to the surface and drew laughs from both men and the crowd. “Sorry mate,” Reid later tweeted, before replying, “Haha yeah just showing him who’s boss. He got me back though”.

Sorry mate ? https://t.co/Ki1NDdHQ2G

— Matt Reid (@MattReid12345) August 8, 2017

Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau will meet top seeds Henri Kontinen and John Peers after getting their Coupe Rogers campaign off to a winning start on Tuesday. The Dutch-Romanian pair eked out a narrow 7-6(7), 7-5 victory over Mexican Santiago Giraldo and American Donald Young.

Rojer and Tecau have split their two FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings with the Finnish-Australian duo. They defeated them in their most recent clash this year, en route to the title in Dubai in March.

Spanish compatriots Roberto Bautista Agut and David Ferrer denied home hopefuls Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil 46, 6-4, 10-2. The unseeded pair ended Nestor’s bid to claim an elusive Coupe Rogers doubles crown in Montreal.

Twice before Nestor had claimed the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in Toronto (2000 with Lareau, 2008 with Zimonjic) but never had he triumphed in Montreal. Bautista Agut and Ferrer will next face No. 6 seeds Raven Klaasen and Rajeev Ram for a place in the quarter-finals.

Scratch pairing Juan Martin del Potro and Grigor Dimitrov landed a convincing 6-3, 6-2 victory over Roland Garros champions Ryan Harrison and Michael Venus. The win sets a second-round meeting with five-time Coupe Rogers champions Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan.

A couple of all-French pairings had impressive first-round wins on Tuesday. Lucas Pouille and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga defeated Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez 6-3, 6-4, while Gael Monfil and Benoit Paire took down Paolo Lorenzi and Albert Ramos-Vinolas.  

Dogged Argentine Diego Schwartzman simply does not know how to surrender. The 24 year old saved four match points to pull off a remarkable 4-6, 7-6(7), 7-5 upset of No. 3 seed Dominic Thiem on Tuesday night.

After an impressive start in which he found himself up a set and a break, the No. 36 in the Emirates ATP Rankings looked to have botched his lead when Thiem levelled the match on his fifth set point of the second-set tie-break.

The 23-year-old Austrian looked to have turned the tables when he surged to 5-2 in the deciding set. But Schwartzman was not done yet. He saved two match points on serve at 3-5, another when Thiem served for the match and a fourth when he was serving to stay alive for 5-5.

With the momentum swing now well in his favour, Schwartzman broke to serve for the match. But the nerves soon took hold. A wayward double fault did not help his cause as he slipped behind 0-40. But this was not to be Thiem’s day.

Schwartzman reeled off the last five points of the match to inflict Thiem’s fourth straight Coupe Rogers loss at the first hurdle.

The Austrian’s 67 unforced errors and eight doubles faults made for a tough night. It was Schwartzman’s first defeat of a Top 10 opponent in the Emirates ATP Rankings in 14 attempts.

Earlier, Jack Sock rallied from a break down in the opening set to post a 7-6(4), 6-3 victory over French qualifier Pierre-Hugues Herbert. The American sent down five aces and saved all five break points in the one-hour, 28-minute affair.

Sock was coming off a semi-final run at last week’s Citi Open in Washington, D.C. before he fell to Kevin Anderson. He leads the ATP World Tour with 23 wins on hard-courts this season.