The first ATP Masters 1000 event since the Rome Masters in May is almost here. The main draw matches of the National Bank Open in Toronto begin on Monday. There will be 56 players in the main draw after qualifying has finished. The top eight seeds receive a bye into the second round. Carlos Alcaraz(1), Daniil Medvedev(2), Casper Ruud(3), Stefanos Tsitsipas(4), Holger Rune(5), Andrey Rublev(6), Jannik Sinner(7) and Taylor Fritz(8) are the players with byes. There are many interesting first-round clashes, and fascinating potential matchups from the second round onwards. This article summarises each quarter of the Toronto Masters Draw.
Toronto Masters Draw
First Quarter of the draw
Although Carlos Alcaraz has a bye in the first round, he could face one of the most difficult routes to the title. 20-year-old Ben Shelton is a potential second-round opponent. The young American has immense talent and is most comfortable on hard courts. He showed this during his run to the quarterfinals at the Australian Open. In the third round, either Alexander Bublik or Hubert Hurkacz could await. Bublik is one of the most mercurial players on the tour, and that unpredictability makes the Halle champion hard to play. Hurkacz was runner-up at the event last year. (albeit it was held in Montreal) If the Pole serves at his best he is a match for anyone. He showed that in his very tight four-set loss at Wimbledon to Novak Djokovic, a match Hurkacz would have won if he had taken set points in the first two sets.
There is a possibility of Alcaraz facing Holger Rune in the quarterfinals. But that is not a guarantee. The Dane will face the dangerous Emil Ruusuvuori if the Finnish #1 beats a qualifier in the first round. And Rune is likely to then play either Tommy Paul or Francisco Cerundolo. A round of 16 clash with Cerundolo would be their first meeting since their epic clash at Roland Garros, which Rune won in a fifth-set tiebreak. Paul on his favourite hard courts would be equally as tough. In addition, a meeting of Cerundolo and Paul in the second round would be their first clash since Cerundolo defeated the American in the Eastbourne final in June.
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Second quarter of the draw
Stefanos Tsitsipas’s draw is not easy either. The Greek will play either Gael Monfils or Christopher Eubanks in his first match of the Toronto Masters. Monfils showed some positive form in Washington and has played very well in North America in the past. And of course, Eubanks defeated Tsitsipas just a few weeks ago at Wimbledon in an epic five-set match. A rematch could be a thrilling watch. If Tsitsipas navigated that challenge, current Washington semifinalist Grigor Dimitrov (at the time of writing) is a possible matchup. Tsitispas does have a strong 6-1 head-t0-head lead over the Bulgarian, but Dimitrov is playing his best tennis in a while. Last year’s Cincinnati champion Borna Coric is another potential opponent. Or Sebastian Korda, who has not been in the best form of late but is tough to face when near his best.
Tsitsipas could face Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals for the first time since their five-set match at the Australian Open this year. Sinner will play Matteo Berrettini in the second round if his compatriot beats Gregoire Barrere. That would be an attractive matchup. Another exciting match in this quarter is Andy Murray vs Lorenzo Sonego in the first round. Those two played an epic match earlier this year, with Murray winning after saving match points. The winner of that match will face a currently out-of-form Felix Auger Aliassime if the Canadian beats a qualifier in the opening round. The tenth seed will seek inspiration in his home country to overcome his current struggles. A possible Auger Aliassime vs Sinner round of 16 is another fun prospect.
If the matches go according to the seedings Alcaraz vs Rune and Tsitsipas vs Sinner will be the quarterfinals. The winners of those matches would then play for a place in the final.
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Third quarter of the draw
Sixth seed Andrey Rublev faces the prospect of a rematch with Wimbledon second-round opponent Aslan Karatsev. But this is far from a certainty as Karatsev has a tricky first-round contest with Mackenzie McDonald. Rublev could then face the always-entertaining Frances Tiafoe in the round of 16. The American plays the big-serving but still recently returning from injury Milos Raonic in the first round. Adrian Mannarino is his likely second-round opponent before a potential big-hitting meeting with Rublev. Tiafoe did of course beat Rublev in straight sets in the US Open quarterfinal last year.
Rublev or Tiafoe may be faced with either Casper Ruud or Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinal. It would be Zverev and Ruud’s first battle since the Norwegian demolished Zverev in straight sets in the semifinals of the French Open if they meet in the round of 16. Ruud’s first match might be tricky. He will play the young and very talented Jiri Lehecka if the Czech beats a qualifier in the first round. The 21-year-0ld has a big game when it clicks and is not a welcome first-round opponent. Zverev could have a difficult second-round match with JJ Wolf, who plays well on North American hard courts. This is dependent on Zverev beating Tallon Griekspoor, which will not be easy after the Dutchman’s excellent run to the semifinals (at the time of writing) in Washington. and Wolf needs to get past Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
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Fourth quarter of the draw
Daniil Medvedev and Lorenzo Musetti is a possible matchup in the round of 16 of the Toronto Masters. The two have never played, and that changing would be an exciting prospect. Medvedev faces off against home favourite Pospisil or a qualifier in the round of 32. Musetti will need to get past the gritty Japanese competitor Yoshihito Nishioka first in the round of 64. Nishioka has beaten the Italian, although this was on clay and over two years ago. Zhizhen Zhang or a qualifier would await in the second round. Zhang has played some good tennis recently, although this was entirely on clay, and a quick transition back to hard courts may be difficult.
Medvedev or Musetti could battle either Taylor Fritz or 11th seed Cameron Norrie in the quarterfinals. Fritz and Norrie have a very underrated rivalry. They have played 12 times, with each winning six times. Therefore a round of 16 clash between the two is an appealing one. Fritz will need to beat Ugo Humbert or Nicolas Jarry. Both of those men hit very powerfully, and Humbert has played well in recent weeks, reaching semifinals in Newport and Atlanta, and a quarterfinal in Washington. He did have to withdraw from his quarterfinal in Washington, so hopefully, he is fully fit. Norrie has a very difficult first-round match with Alex De Minaur, who is having a superb reason. Expect many lung-busting rallies in that one. Fellow Briton Dan Evans or Canadian Gabriel Diallo would then be the obstacles to a potential contest with Fritz.
If the matches go according to the seedings Rublev vs Ruud and Medvedev vs Fritz will be the quarterfinals. The winners of these contests would then play for a place in the final.
Conclusion
The ATP Masters 1000 event in Toronto promises much entertainment, with many enticing first-round and potential matchups. The North American hard court season is likely to be an enthralling one. It is the time of the year when many of the top players feel most at ease and produce their best tennis. That should mean an excellent few weeks ahead.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
