TORONTO — Felix Auger-Aliassime finds himself torn regarding the recent withdrawals from the National Bank Open.
On one hand, it’s disappointing for Canadian tennis enthusiasts who will miss witnessing top talents like World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz, and No. 6 Novak Djokovic showcase their skills in Toronto.
Conversely, Auger-Aliassime’s opportunities to become the first Canadian to claim the men’s Canadian Open title in the Open Era have certainly gotten a boost.
“I guess (tournament director) Karl (Hale) and I have differing perspectives on this,” Auger-Aliassime, 24, quipped as the draw was unveiled at Sobeys Stadium on Friday in Toronto.
“Karl isn’t stepping onto the court against Alcaraz. So for me, it’s business as usual. Every tournament has its ups and downs. Players must navigate their schedules over the year, but my focus remains unchanged. I’m here to compete, play, and aim for victory.”
Joining Auger-Aliassime are two other seeded Canadians: Denis Shapovalov and Gabriel Dillo. This marks a landmark moment, as it’s the first time Canada has featured three seeded players in the men’s bracket at its national open.
All three are positioned in distinct quadrants, so their earliest potential clash would only come in the semifinals. They each enjoy first-round byes as part of the newly revamped ATP Masters 1000 tournament, which will see 96 players compete over twelve exhilarating days—from Sunday until August 7—for the first time ever.
In addition to the absent stars, a supportive crowd and favorable draw could further enhance the Canadians’ prospects.
“The backing from Canadian fans is incredibly motivating and empowers me to perform my best,” Auger-Aliassime remarked, after having secured an Olympic mixed-doubles bronze alongside Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski last summer in Paris.
“Returning is always a pleasure. These opportunities are rare, so I make it a point to cherish every single moment.”
As the 21st seed from Montreal, Auger-Aliassime won’t face a seeded opponent until at least the third round. He could potentially square off against American No. 4 Ben Shelton in the fourth round and possibly face No. 7 Frances Tiafoe, also from the U.S., in the quarterfinals.
Shapovalov, seeded 22nd and hailing from Richmond Hill, Ontario, will navigate a quadrant that includes No. 3 Lorenzo Musetti and No. 8 Casper Ruud en route to the semifinals.
The 26-year-old enters the tournament with renewed confidence after claiming his second title of the season earlier this month at an ATP 250 event in Mexico.
Montreal’s Diallo, now the 27th seed and fresh off his first career title in June, also competes in a challenging quadrant featuring No. 2 Taylor Fritz and No. 6 Andrey Rublev.
Germany’s Alexander Zverev headlines the tournament as the top seed.
“Regardless of the draw, every match is a battle. If I progress to the later rounds and the top players are out, then yes, perhaps things could open up,” Auger-Aliassime noted. “However, every player is of high caliber, so winning this tournament will still require immense effort.”
Among those high-caliber players is Norway’s Ruud, a 13-time ATP Tour champion and three-time Grand Slam finalist.
However, following his triumph at the Madrid Open in April, Ruud has struggled with injuries and inconsistent performances, suffering a second-round defeat at the French Open and opting out of Wimbledon.
“I competed last week in Gstaad, and the results weren’t what I’d hoped for. But I’ve arrived early to prepare, and I’m committed to making the most of my practice time to gear up for this hard-court season,” he explained.
Similarly, Auger-Aliassime’s season has not unfolded as intended, despite achieving two titles in January and February.
He mentioned employing a strategy early in the season that included participating in lower-tier tournaments leading up to the Grand Slams. Although some experiences were positive, the results at the majors have been less favorable.
Vasek Pospisil from Vernon, B.C., who announced his retirement following this tournament, is set to face a qualifier in his first-round match, with a potential second-round matchup against Ruud looming.
At least seven Canadians are expected to contest in the main draw—pending Saturday’s qualifications—though no all-Canadian encounters are scheduled for the opening round.
World No. 115 Liam Draxl of Newmarket, Ont., will go up against No. 92 Pablo Carreno Busta from Spain.
Alexis Galarneau, from Laval, Quebec and ranked 198th, is set to compete against No. 65 Arthur Rinderknech of France.
Nicolas Arseneault of Richmond Hill, Ontario—Canada’s top junior player—will make his main-draw debut against Serbia’s 68th-ranked Laslo Djere.
Since the advent of the Open Era in 1968, a Canadian man has yet to win the National Bank Open singles title, with Robert Bédard being the last victor in 1958.
Bianca Andreescu’s championship in 2019 marked a historic moment as the first for a Canadian woman since Faye Urban’s win in 1969.
Dabrowski remains the last Canadian to triumph on home soil, having won the women’s doubles alongside Brazilian partner Luisa Stefani in 2021.
