The first of two consecutive Masters 1000 tournaments takes place next week in Toronto, Canada. It’s the National Bank Open, where the field consists of Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Jannik Sinner, and many more.
Novak Djokovic has withdrawn, so there will be no rematch of the recent Wimbledon final between Djokovic an Alcaraz–won by the Spaniard in a thrilling five-setter. Nonetheless, Alcaraz could run into plenty of intriguing matchups on his potential way to the title. The world No. 1 will likely kick off his campaign against fellow 20-year-old Ben Shelton before possibly meeting Hubert Hurkacz in the third round, Holger Rune in the quarterfinals, and Sinner in the semis.
It’s a difficult top half of the draw overall, as Sinner and Tsitsipas are on a collision course for the last eight and neither has an easy road to that destination. Sinner may have to get past Matteo Berrettini and Andy Murray in his first two matches, while Tsitsipas awaits either Gael Monfils or Chris Eubanks in his opening match.
On the other side of the bracket, Medvedev and Taylor Fritz find themselves in the same section. Medvedev is coming off a semifinal showing at the All-England Club, while Fritz’s hard-court swing already includes a title in Atlanta and a semifinal run in Washington, D.C. (vs. Tallon Griekspoor on Saturday). The softest quarter of the Toronto draw features Andrey Rublev, Casper Ruud, and Alexander Zverev.
First-round matches to watch are Monfils vs. Eubanks, Zverev vs. Griekspoor, Murray vs. Lorenzo Sonego, Hurkacz vs. Alexander Bublik, and Cameron Norrie vs. Alex de Minaur.
who ya got?
Apart from absence of Novak, its a very strong field but I’m backing Carlos.
As am I, Margot. There is a strong field, but Carlos is my winning pick. I am not clear about the runner-up for Toronto.
The WTA bracket for Montreal is less clear. My bracket is not entirely done.
As for last week’s bracket winners, not all finals have been played yet.
Cabos’ final was last night, and Tsitsipas won. Bakhandpass is our winner, closely followed by welshwitch. Congrats!
The final in Kitzbuhel was played yesterday, and Baez won with Thiem as the runner-up. Ratcliff won, closely followed by welshwitch. Congrats!
Washinton, DC, Finals are yet to come, as is the Prague Final. Prague has a rain delay, and they have yet to finish one SF. Noskova won the other SF.
The DC WTA final is Coco Gauff vs. Maria Sakkari. It should be starting at 2:30 pm EDT.
The ATP final looks awesome. It features red-hot Dan Evans vs. carthorse killer Talon Griekspoor! It follows the WTA final.
Coco Gauff is playing better than ever this past week in DC. She makes the SF in Toronto, but it won’t be easy. She’ll have to beat Wimbledon Champ, Vondrousova, or Wozniacki; then she’ll have to knock out Pegula or Keys.
Simona Halep won last year. There are many in the top 20 players that I can see winning. Ons Jabeur is not playing, and I see Barbora Kreicikova is sitting this one out. Good Luck!
Got Carlos v Danii, very boring pick! In WTA I’m umming and ahhhring about Rybarakina making a move.
I really like Stephens, so beautiful to watch, but seems to me she’s a bit lackadaisicle about her talent. She did really well recently and I thought, “here she comes” but no!
Carlos is my winner and the same runner-up as you. Finally, Coco and Maria are on the court warming up. Out of the blue, and no other idea came to mind, I picked the right winner and finalist!
It’s going to be a good match, I hope.
If I comment, I will go to the old WTA page.