This year’s National Bank Open is set to host nearly all the shining lights of men’s tennis, making a triumphant return after several star withdrawals last season from the ATP Masters 1000 tournament.
Leading the charge on the 96-player roster are World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and the legendary 24-time Grand Slam victor, Novak Djokovic, making this summer’s event a must-watch.
Tennis Canada has announced that an impressive 71 of the top 72 ATP Tour players will grace the courts at IGA Stadium from August 1 to 13, although one prominent name is missing.
Seven-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz will be sitting out the Montreal tournament as he focuses on recuperating from a right wrist injury sustained in April, which kept him from participating in both the French Open and Wimbledon.
“Of course, I would have preferred to announce the attendance of all the top players, but we fully understand Carlos’s situation,” said NBO tournament director Valérie Tétreault. “His well-being is our top priority, especially with a wrist injury that can be quite delicate.”
“He’s just at the outset of his career, so I’m confident there will be many opportunities to welcome him to Montreal in the future.”
The 23-year-old Spaniard, locked in a notable rivalry with Sinner, began the year in spectacular fashion by clinching the Australian Open, becoming the youngest player to achieve a career Grand Slam.
Meanwhile, the unstoppable Sinner is making waves this season, boasting an undefeated record in ATP Masters 1000 competitions, with six consecutive titles under his belt.
This stellar lineup also brings together the likes of French Open champion Alexander Zverev and Canada’s own top-ranked Félix Auger-Aliassime, currently holding the prestigious world No. 4 spot.
Last year’s tournament missed Sinner, Alcaraz, Djokovic, and then-No. 5 Jack Draper, having taken place just two weeks post-Wimbledon. This year’s competition will commence three weeks after the All England Club finals.
However, Djokovic’s participation remains in limbo, as Tétreault noted. The 39-year-old Serb is adopting a lighter schedule in his later career and will assess his plans following Wimbledon.
“I would categorize it as a significant question mark,” she clarified regarding Djokovic, who hasn’t set foot in Montreal since 2015. “It’s far from certain that being on the list means he’ll actually compete this summer.”
“He needs to choose his tournaments wisely, always with the goal of capturing his 25th Grand Slam.”
While competitors like Sinner and Zverev have already secured their accommodations in Montreal, “Novak hasn’t made any bookings yet,” added Tétreault.
As the tournament’s third seed, Montreal’s very own Auger-Aliassime will make history as the highest-seeded Canadian player to take part in the event.
Auger-Aliassime recently faced a quarterfinal exit at Wimbledon, where he was defeated by Djokovic in an exhilarating five-set match that stretched over five hours and 15 minutes.
Tétreault carries hope for back-to-back Canadian victories in Montreal, reminiscing about how teenage sensation Victoria Mboko captivated fans during last year’s women’s tournament.
“Why not dream big?” she exclaimed. “I know Felix followed Victoria’s remarkable journey last year and was thrilled to see a Canadian triumph in Montreal. He shares that dream of winning, and I believe he’ll have confidence in his chances.”
“He’s entering with not just the advantage of ranking but also the impressive level of play he’s displayed recently.”
Other esteemed participants include defending champion and world No. 5 Ben Shelton from the USA, along with Russia’s Daniil Medvedev.
Richmond Hill’s Denis Shapovalov, seeded 40th, has secured a direct entry into the main draw, while Montreal’s Gabriel Diallo, ranked No. 88, has been granted a wild card.
Top-32 seeds will enjoy first-round byes at this high-stakes US$9.4 million tournament.
