Toronto 2025 draw unveiled: absent top stars, all eyes on Zverev, Tsitsipas, Rune and local hopefuls
Seeded Canadians and returning stars including Alexander Zverev, Holger Rune, and Stefanos Tsitsipas are set to battle for supremacy on hard courts as the US Open hard-court season heats up.
Tênis National Bank Open ATP Masters 1000 | © Fotoarena / Bestimage / PsnewZ
The 2025 National Bank Open’s main draw was unveiled on Saturday, revealing a 96-player field dramatically altered by a wave of high-profile withdrawals at the ATP 1000 tournament. Top names such as world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Hubert Hurkacz, Jack Draper, and Sebastian Korda are absent, elevating top seed Alexander Zverev alongside Holger Rune and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
While Daniil Medvedev has already returned to competition this week in Washington (losing in the quarterfinals against Corentin Moutet), Zverev, Rune, and Tsitsipas make their first appearances since their first-round losses at Wimbledon in Toronto, aiming to gain momentum on North America’s fast hard courts before Cincinnati (August 7-18) and the US Open (August 24-September 7).
Zverev, the 2017 champion in Montreal with seven Masters 1000 titles primarily on hard courts, carries the spotlight as the top seed after a short stay at the Rafa Nadal Academy. He will face Adam Walton or Benjamin Bonzi, the Frenchman who defeated Medvedev at Wimbledon, in the second round.
Pressure on Zverev and Fritz
Rune, the fifth seed and Indian Wells finalist, might face a challenging opener against giant server Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, who will first face a qualifier. If victorious, Rune could meet Medvedev or defending champion Alexei Popyrin, seeded 18, in the fourth round.
Tsitsipas (No. 23), a two-time Canadian Open finalist (2018, 2022), looks to build on his experience despite not yet winning a Masters 1000 title on outdoor hard courts. He could eventually face the in-form Alex de Minaur (No. 8) in the third round.
Taylor Fritz, seeded second and recently eliminated from Washington, faces a quick turnaround as he navigates the demanding North American hard-court schedule. His 2022 Indian Wells Masters win underlines his capabilities, but fatigue remains a factor.
Auger-Aliassime, Shapovlov and Diallo seeded
Canadian tennis enjoys a landmark moment with Felix Auger-Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov, and Gabriel Diallo all seeded and placed in separate quadrants, maximizing local hopes for deep runs.
Auger-Aliassime’s path could see him face Fabian Marozsan or Hugo Dellien before a likely battle with American Ben Shelton. Shapovalov’s section includes third seed Lorenzo Musetti and eighth seed Casper Ruud, while Diallo may contend with Fritz and sixth seed Andrey Rublev.
Vasek Pospisil’s farewell campaign begins in round one against a qualifier, with a possible second-round meeting against 30th seed Nuno Borges and a third-round clash against Casper Ruud.
Early matchups to watch include Sebastian Ofner versus Reilly Opelka, Corentin Moutet against Jenson Brooksby, and Mackenzie McDonald facing David Goffin. Young Brazilian João Fonseca, the 2024 NextGen Finals champion, could challenge Zverev in the third round.
As this expanded, 12-day, 96-player tournament unfolds, it signals a critical juncture in the ATP summer hard-court swing, with new narratives and potential breakthroughs ahead of Cincinnati and the US Open.
