Some of the top seeds are in action at the Toronto Masters on Thursday, with No. 3 seed Lorenzo Musetti taking on American Alex Michelsen and No. 10 Daniil Medvedev going up against Alexei Popyrin.
(3)Lorenzo Musetti vs. (26) Alex Michelsen
This year’s National Bank Open offers a great opportunity for an up-and-coming player to nab a Masters 1000 title. Top players have withdrawn from one of the premier ATP events on the tennis calendar, owing to various injuries and fatigue from the grueling clay and grass-court seasons. Enter Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, whose two titles have come in Hamburg and Naples back in 2022. The world No. 10 routinely finds himself in the business end of tournaments–often on clay, but on other surfaces as well. He is a 2025 French Open semifinalist and a 2024 Wimbledon semifinalist.
American Alex Michelsen is waiting for his first big breakthrough. The No. 26 seed had a poor showing at Wimbledon, where he lost in the first round, and another early exit in Washington last week. He is ranked 34th in the world, but his results so far this season haven’t matched his ranking and he’ll need to perform better especially during the North American hard-court swing. Musetti and Michelsen have never faced each other. The Italian is the better player, and althought the tour is in North America, Michelsen isn’t playing in front of a home crowd. Look for experience to win out on this one.
Cheryl pick: Musetti in 2
Ricky pick: Michelsen in 3
(10) Daniil Medvedev vs. (18) Alexei Popyrin
Daniil Medvedev is decidedly off the boil. The former world No. 1 and U.S. Open champion has had absolutely miserable Grand Slam results in 2025. Three slams in, he has a second, first, and first round to show for his efforts. He made the quarterfinals in Washington, D.C. but lost to lucky loser Corentin Moutet.
Alexei Popyrin had a good second half of 2024, but he hasn’t maintained that level in 2025. He owns a losing 12-16 record on the season. It’s tempting, given Medvedev’s form, to suggest a Popyrin upset on Thursday. However, it’s worth nothing that the Russian is at his best during this part of the season. Additionally, he boasts a 4-1 record over Popyrin; the Australian’s one win came at the Paris Masters last year. While Medvedev is far from his best right now, he is still on his favorite surface and there is certainly no risk of fatigue given the relative brevity of his clay and grass seasons. The favorite should advance.
Cheryl pick: Medvedev in 2
Ricky pick: Medvedev in 3
WWW?
As good as Musseti is on grass and clay, hard is a very different story where the courts are quicker and the ball comes at him differently,so he has less time to set up his shots, so is less effective, the good news is that neither player looks in form on hard coming into this match, Michelsen was upset by Evans last week, having said that Michelsen is the better HC player, Michelsen in 3, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.
Even though Meddy has a 4-1 HTH with Popyrin, they’re last 2 matches on hard have been very close and Popyrin got the last one, also Popyrin won this event last year, so the advantage goes to him here, Popyrin in 3, 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-4.
Agreed. No chance Meddy wins in straight sets. He probably loses to be honest.
yep
Bit of a toss up between him and Zverev ( who will lose earliest) I have meddyin final but only by default.
welp
At least meddy has won a Slam