The perfect gamers on this planet are set for the sixth ATP Masters 1000 match of the yr on the Nationwide Financial institution Open Introduced by Rogers in Toronto.
World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and defending Toronto champion Daniil Medvedev prepared the ground on the hard-court occasion. ATPTour.com appears at 10 storylines to observe over the approaching week.
1) Alcaraz’s Toronto Debut: Contemporary off his memorable triumph at Wimbledon, Alcaraz will make his Toronto debut. One yr in the past the Spaniard competed for the primary time in Canada, dropping his opening match in Montreal to Tommy Paul. Alcaraz could have a chance to get off to a greater begin this version in opposition to 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 total trophy of the yr.
2) Medvedev Defending Toronto Champ: The final time this match was performed in Toronto, Medvedev departed with the trophy. Medvedev accomplished his run in 2021 by dropping simply 11 mixed video games within the semi-final and closing. The second seed will attempt to earn Canadian glory as soon as once more this yr, when he begins in opposition to residence favorite Vasek Pospisil or a qualifier.
3) Felix Leads Canadian Cost: The highest-ranked Canadian, Felix Auger-Aliassime, leads the house hopes in Toronto because the tenth seed. A participant who first competed in Toronto qualifying in 2016 simply shy of his sixteenth birthday, Auger-Aliassime will attempt to declare his first Masters 1000 title this week on residence soil. The 22-year-old, who has struggled in latest months with a knee damage, will face a qualifier within the first spherical and will play former World No. 1 Andy Murray within the second spherical.
4) Milos Is Again: Former World No. 3 Milos Raonic shall be in motion for simply the third time for the reason that 2021 Atlanta Open. The Canadian standout performed earlier this yr at ‘s-Hertogenbosch and Wimbledon, successful a match at every. The three-time Toronto quarter-finalist and 2013 Montreal finalist will attempt to journey his serve to a deep run at residence, beginning together with his robust opening match in opposition to ninth seed Frances Tiafoe.
5) Dwell Race Heating Up: With solely Alcaraz certified for the Nitto ATP Finals, the Pepperstone ATP Dwell Race To Turin will start to warmth up, particularly with a most of 1,000 factors up for grabs in Canada. Eighth by tenth locations are at present separated by solely 215 factors. Casper Ruud is in eighth, with latest Atlanta champion Taylor Fritz simply 100 factors behind him and two-time Nitto ATP Finals titlist Alexander Zverev 115 factors behind the American. That leaves loads of alternative for shifts within the battle to maneuver right into a qualifying place.
6) Tsitsipas’ Time? A finalist in Toronto in 2018 and a semi-finalist in 2021, will this be the yr Stefanos Tsitsipas claims the crown within the Canadian metropolis? Tsitsipas arrives in good kind after triumphing in Los Cabos for his first title of the season. The fourth seed will start his match in opposition to Christopher Eubanks or Gael Monfils.
7) Extra Stars To Watch: There could possibly be a blockbuster conflict between Alcaraz and fifth seed Holger Rune within the quarter-finals if each gamers make it that far. The Danish star Rune performs Emil Ruusuvuori or a qualifier within the opening spherical. Seventh seed Jannik Sinner might open in opposition to countryman and former Prime 10 star Matteo Berrettini. One other participant to observe is sixth seed Andrey Rublev, the latest Bastad champion and Wimbledon quarter-finalist.
8) Murray Magic: Murray is a three-time champion at Canada’s Masters 1000 occasion and in 2010 he emerged victorious in Toronto. That version, the Scot defeated Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in back-to-back matches with out dropping a set in opposition to both legend to raise the trophy. After displaying optimistic indicators in Washington, Murray will attempt to preserve his momentum when he faces Lorenzo Sonego within the first spherical.
9) Koolhof/Skupski Lead The Means: Wimbledon champions Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski are the highest seeds within the doubles draw. They’re in good kind after incomes victories at ‘s-Hertogenbosch and The All England Membership. Koolhof and Skupski will face a troublesome opening check in opposition to 2022 Nitto ATP Finals rivals Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara or Hubert Hurkacz and Mate Pavic. Second seeds Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek additionally claimed main glory this yr after they gained Roland Garros.
10) Tsitsipas, Rublev Amongst Singles Stars Enjoying Doubles: Tsitsipas is competing within the doubles draw with Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Rublev will staff with Max Purcell. Different singles stars to observe in doubles embody Alex de Minaur/Jannik Sinner and Sebastian Korda/Frances Tiafoe.