It’s round of 16 day at the National Bank Open, here’s a preview for two of today’s matches in Montreal, Jiri Lehecka vs. Rafael Jodar and Arthur Fils vs. Cameron Norrie, with our predictions and best bets.
Jiri Lehecka vs Rafael Jodar
Jodar just keeps rolling and he’s the hottest player on tour right now. The 19-year-old Spaniard is 27-6 since the start of the clay swing, a stretch that includes the title in Marrakech, a quarterfinal run at Roland Garros and, most recently, a runner-up finish in Washington last week. In Montreal he’s already come through Corentin Moutet and Musetti to reach the fourth round.
Lehecka, the 8th seed and at a career-high No. 12, has had a bumpier road to get here, going just 7-7 in his last 14 matches before this week. That said, he’s found some very decent form in Montreal, easing past countryman Vit Kopriva 6-4, 6-2 before beating in-form Alexander Blockx 6-3, 6-4.
Predictions and best bets
This will be the first meeting between these two players and that always makes it a bit trickier.
Jodar is the form player in this matchup and he enters as slight favorite at the bookies. The confidence seem sky high for the Spaniard. Lehecka has shown good form and it will take a good effort to beat him, over three sets Jodar usually finds a way lately.
My bet: Jodar to win in three sets.
Find good odds at Stake or at BetAnything (US).
Arthur Fils vs Cameron Norrie
Another match of two players that never met each other on tour before.
Fils has quietly put together a strong season, sitting at 25-9 in 2026, would probably been better hasn’t it been for several injury troubles. He got through round three in Montreal by beating Mariano Navone 6-3, 6-2 after needing three sets to see off Zachary Svajda earlier in the week.
Norrie’s path here has been more eventful. He was two points from going out to Alex de Minaur in round three, down 5-7, 5-2, 40-30, before saving the match point, ripping off back-to-back breaks, and closing it out 5-7, 7-6(5), 6-1 in nearly three hours. That kind of win can go either way for the next match though…
Predictions and best bets
Norrie is a real fighter and he never makes it easy for any opponent, but in this matchup I think Fils has an edge and it will be interesting to follow him if he can stay injury free for a longer period. The Frenchman should control this one from the back of the court, even if Norrie makes him work for it.
My bet: Fils to win in two sets
