The best players in the world are set for the sixth ATP Masters 1000 tournament of the year at the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers in Toronto.
World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and defending Toronto champion Daniil Medvedev lead the way at the hard-court event. ATPTour.com looks at 10 storylines to watch over the coming week.
1) Alcaraz’s Toronto Debut: Fresh off his memorable triumph at Wimbledon, Alcaraz will make his Toronto debut. One year ago the Spaniard competed for the first time in Canada, losing his opening match in Montreal to Tommy Paul. Alcaraz will have an opportunity to get off to a better start this edition against Ben Shelton or Bernabe Zapata Miralles. The 20-year-old will pursue his third Masters 1000 title of the season (Indian Wells and Madrid) and his seventh overall trophy of the year.
2) Medvedev Defending Toronto Champ: The last time this tournament was played in Toronto, Medvedev departed with the trophy. Medvedev completed his run in 2021 by losing just 11 combined games in the semi-final and final. The second seed will try to earn Canadian glory once again this year, when he starts against home favourite Vasek Pospisil or a qualifier.
3) Felix Leads Canadian Charge: The top-ranked Canadian, Felix Auger-Aliassime, leads the home hopes in Toronto as the 10th seed. A player who first competed in Toronto qualifying in 2016 just shy of his 16th birthday, Auger-Aliassime will try to claim his first Masters 1000 title this week on home soil. The 22-year-old, who has struggled in recent months with a knee injury, will face a qualifier in the first round and could play former World No. 1 Andy Murray in the second round.
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4) Milos Is Back: Former World No. 3 Milos Raonic will be in action for just the third time since the 2021 Atlanta Open. The Canadian standout played earlier this year at ‘s-Hertogenbosch and Wimbledon, winning a match at each. The three-time Toronto quarter-finalist and 2013 Montreal finalist will try to ride his serve to a deep run at home, starting with his tough opening match against ninth seed Frances Tiafoe.
5) Live Race Heating Up: With only Alcaraz qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals, the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin will begin to heat up, especially with a maximum of 1,000 points up for grabs in Canada. Eighth through 10th places are currently separated by only 215 points. Casper Ruud is in eighth, with recent Atlanta champion Taylor Fritz just 100 points behind him and two-time Nitto ATP Finals titlist Alexander Zverev 115 points behind the American. That leaves plenty of opportunity for shifts in the battle to move into a qualifying position.
6) Tsitsipas’ Time? A finalist in Toronto in 2018 and a semi-finalist in 2021, will this be the year Stefanos Tsitsipas claims the crown in the Canadian city? Tsitsipas arrives in good form after triumphing in Los Cabos for his first title of the season. The fourth seed will begin his tournament against Christopher Eubanks or Gael Monfils.
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7) More Stars To Watch: There could be a blockbuster clash between Alcaraz and fifth seed Holger Rune in the quarter-finals if both players make it that far. The Danish star Rune plays Emil Ruusuvuori or a qualifier in the opening round. Seventh seed Jannik Sinner could open against countryman and former Top 10 star Matteo Berrettini. Another player to watch is sixth seed Andrey Rublev, the recent Bastad champion and Wimbledon quarter-finalist.
8) Murray Magic: Murray is a three-time champion at Canada’s Masters 1000 event and in 2010 he emerged victorious in Toronto. That edition, the Scot defeated Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in back-to-back matches without losing a set against either legend to lift the trophy. After showing positive signs in Washington, Murray will try to maintain his momentum when he faces Lorenzo Sonego in the first round.
9) Koolhof/Skupski Lead The Way: Wimbledon champions Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski are the top seeds in the doubles draw. They are in good form after earning victories at ‘s-Hertogenbosch and The All England Club. Koolhof and Skupski will face a tough opening test against 2022 Nitto ATP Finals competitors Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara or Hubert Hurkacz and Mate Pavic. Second seeds Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek also claimed major glory this year when they won Roland Garros.
10) Tsitsipas, Rublev Among Singles Stars Playing Doubles: Tsitsipas is competing in the doubles draw with Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Rublev will team with Max Purcell. Other singles stars to watch in doubles include Alex de Minaur/Jannik Sinner and Sebastian Korda/Frances Tiafoe.