By Tony Fairbairn
- Alexander Zverev highlights a depleted field with Alexei Popyrin looking to defend his Canada title.
- Top Seeds: Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, Lorenzo Musetti, Ben Shelton
- British Interest: Cameron Norrie [31], Jacob Fearnley
TORONTO, CANADA – Alexander Zverev highlights a depleted field in Toronto which features defending champion Alexei Popyrin.
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[1] Alexander Zverev
Best Result: Champion (2017)
A sub-par season for Zverev so far but with 14 of the world’s top 20 missing from this tournament then this could be the perfect tournament to turn his season around.
Zverev’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: BYE | H2H: N/A
- R2: Adam Walton | H2H: First Meeting
- R3: Matteo Arnaldi [32] | H2H: Zverev leads 1-0
- R4: Francisco Cerundolo [14] | H2H: Cerundolo leads 3-0
- QF: Holger Rune [5] | H2H: Zverev leads 3-1
- SF: Lorenzo Musetti [3] | H2H: Musetti leads 3-1
- F: Taylor Fritz [2] | H2H: Fritz leads 8-5
Zverev will face a severe test of his title credentials early on with sensational talent Joao Fonseca potentially awaiting in the third round. Should the German survive that test then he could play Francisco Cerundolo who he has an awful record against. One of Holger Rune, Daniil Medvedev or defending champion Alexei Popyrin will await in the quarter-finals ahead of a semi-final against Musetti. Ultimately Zverev is lacking the killer instinct and confidence needed to win big titles at the moment as another disappointing tournament looms.
[2] Taylor Fritz
Best Result: Fourth Round (2022, 2023)
After reaching a first Wimbledon semi-final, Fritz suffered a shock exit in Washington and will now look to recover as he has US Open final points to defend next month.
Fritz’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: BYE | H2H: N/A
- R2: Camilo Ugo Carabelli | H2H: Fritz leads 1-0
- R3: Gabriel Diallo [25] | H2H: Fritz leads 1-0
- R4: Arthur Fils [15] | H2H: Fils leads 1-0
- QF: Andrey Rublev [6] | H2H: Fritz leads 5-4
- SF: Ben Shelton [4] | H2H: Fritz leads 1-0
- F: Alexander Zverev [1] | H2H: Fritz leads 8-5
After a fairly comfortable opening round match, Fritz will battle Canadian rising star Gabriel Diallo in a rematch from their Wimbledon clash which the American won in five sets. In the fourth round either Jiri Lehecka or a returning Arthur Fils will provide a stern test for Fritz. Players such as Jakub Mensik, Andrey Rublev and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina will push Fritz to his limits in the quarter-finals especially Davidovich Fokina who defeated Fritz in Washington. A challenging draw for Fritz in a section of the draw where there is plenty of opportunity for players to make big strides in.
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[3] Lorenzo Musetti
Best Result: Third Round (2023)
Musetti is yet to recover from his Roland Garros injury but will be hoping he can recover his confidence in Canada.
Musetti’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: BYE | H2H: N/A
- R2: Juncheng Shang | H2H: Shang leads 1-0
- R3: Alex Michelsen [26] | H2H: First Meeting
- R4: Tomas Machac [16] | H2H: Machac leads 1-0
- QF: Casper Ruud [8] | H2H: Tied at 1-1
- SF: Alexander Zverev [1] | H2H: Musetti leads 3-1
- F: Taylor Fritz [2] | H2H: Musetti leads 3-2
A potential third round blockbuster with Gael Monfils could be Musetti’s first real test of the tournament. Should Musetti pass that then a fourth round match with Canadian Denis Shapovalov could await with Karen Khachanov or Casper Ruud awaiting in the quarter-finals. It will be interesting to see what level Musetti brings to Canada but if the Italian doesn’t revert to his clay court form then another early exit could await Musetti in Toronto.
[4] Ben Shelton
Best Result: Second Round (2023, 2024)
A disappointing semi-final showing at Washington will fuel Shelton’s bid in Canada as expectations are high for the US Open on the world number seven.
Shelton’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: BYE | H2H: N/A
- R2: Marcos Giron | H2H: Tied at 1-1
- R3: Brandon Nakashima [25] | H2H: Shelton leads 4-0
- R4: Flavio Cobolli [13] | H2H: Cobolli leads 2-1
- QF: Frances Tiafoe [7] | H2H: Shelton leads 3-1
- SF: Taylor Fritz [2] | H2H: Fritz leads 1-0
- F: Alexander Zverev [1] | H2H: Zverev leads 3-0
The first two rounds will test Shelton’s consistency as Marcos Giron and Brandon Nakashima can be two resilient and tough opponents. Either Flavio Cobolli or Felix Auger-Aliassime will await in the fourth round before a potential Washington rematch with Frances Tiafoe in the quarter-finals. This is a big opportunity for Shelton and one he has to deliver on if he wants to be a regular top ten player in the future.
ATP Toronto begins on the 27th of July and concludes on the seventh of August.
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