Denis Shapovalov impressively beat Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro ©Getty Images

Canadian youngster Denis Shapovalov delighted the home crowd at the Rogers Cup in Montreal by beating Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro to set up a showdown with Spain’s Rafael Nadal.

The 18-year-old was handed a wildcard entry into the tournament and achieved his second straight victory to reach the third round of the competition.

Shapovalov, last year's Wimbledon boys champion, overcame Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallist Del Potro 6-3, 7-6 in an impressive performance at the Uniprix Stadium.

He will now face the tough task of taking on Nadal, with the Spaniard having eased past Croatia’s Borna Coric 6-1, 6-2.

Should Nadal triumph and reach the quarter-finals, it would put him one win away from returning to the top of the men’s singles world rankings, which are currently headed by the injured Sir Andy Murray of Britain.

The opposite side of the draw saw second seed Roger Federer come through his first test of the tournament.

The Swiss star, who celebrated his 36th birthday yesterday, overcame Canadian wildcard Peter Polansky 6-2, 6-1.

Federer will now face Spain’s David Ferrer after he won a three set match against the United States’ Jack Sock 7-6, 3-6, 6-1.

Rafael Nadal is two wins away from becoming men's world number one ©Getty Images
Rafael Nadal is two wins away from becoming men's world number one ©Getty Images

Defending champion Simona Halep eased to victory in her first match of the women’s event at the Aviva Centre in Toronto.

The Romanian was a 6-3, 6-4 winner against Slovakia’s Magdaléna Rybáriková.

She will now face the Czech Republic’s Barbora Strycova, who advanced yesterday.

Top seed Karolina Pliskova beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia 6-3, 6-3 in the second round of the competition.

The Czech player will now meet Japan’s Naomi Osaka, who beat Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova 6-3, 6-4.

The men’s tournament features on the ATP World Tour, while the women’s competition is part of the WTA tour.