MONTREAL — Denis Shapovalov’s journey at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers took a sudden turn on Tuesday afternoon, as he exited IGA Stadium with an injury, ultimately conceding his first-round match to Zachary Svajda from the USA.
The talented player from Richmond Hill, Ont., came to Montreal riding high after his impressive performance at the Los Cabos Open last week, where he reached the finals. This gave him renewed hope of rekindling the promise he showcased in 2017, when he stunned Rafael Nadal on these very courts before finishing as a semifinalist — a historic feat that made him the first Canadian man to achieve a home victory since Robert Bedard in 1958.
Sadly, that optimism was quickly eclipsed when Shapovalov experienced a sharp discomfort in his right leg.
That moment came during the final game of the second set, and as the injury continued to nag him through the first three games of the third, he decided to walk to the net to shake hands with Svajda, who was awarded a 4-6, 6-4, 3-0 victory.
This defeat marks a sobering step back for Shapovalov in his quest for triumph at this Masters 1000 event.
“Playing in Canada, I wanted to give my all in front of the fans,” Shapovalov expressed. “Unfortunately, I couldn’t push through. It felt like other areas of my body were starting to give way.”
This isn’t the first time he’s felt the burden of injury; a knee issue in 2023 had already set him back for six months.
Since then, he has battled various injuries that have obstructed his once-promising trajectory. This year began with a fractured rib sustained at Queen’s Club in June, and although he aimed to play through it at Wimbledon, a shoulder injury ultimately led to his withdrawal in Round 1.
“It’s part of the sport,” Shapovalov noted on Monday upon his arrival in Montreal, nursing a sore ankle. “Many players struggle with injuries these days. It’s a demanding sport; there are numerous challenges we have to face.”
He has faced too many obstacles since he burst onto the scene, rocketing from 143rd to 67th in the world rankings thanks to victories over notable players like Rogerio Dutra Silva, Juan Martin del Potro, top seed Nadal, and French star Adrian Mannarino nine years ago in Montreal.
Shapovalov captivated hundreds of thousands of fans, including the legendary Wayne Gretzky, during his impressive Canadian Open debut. A semifinal loss to Alexander Zverev did little to dampen expectations that he could quickly ascend to become Canada’s top player. His chariot-whip forehand and breathtaking one-handed backhands showcased the flair of a future star.
However, he hasn’t progressed beyond the second round of the Canadian Open more than once since that thrilling initial appearance. His ascent to 10th in the world in 2020 now seems like a mere blip compared to the injuries and inconsistencies that have plagued him over the past six years. While moments of triumph, like winning the 2025 tournament in Dallas against top-tier competitors such as Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul, stand out, they are often overshadowed by setbacks, and this latest result in Montreal fits that narrative.
This latest setback followed victories over Rinky Hijikata, Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez, Dalibor Svercina, and Cameron Norrie, which propelled Shapovalov to the finals, where he faced Arthur Gea in Mexico. Despite a swift start with a 6-4 opening-set victory against Svajda, the tide turned an hour later, leading to resignation.
“I’ve been grappling with an ankle injury since the finals,” Shapovalov disclosed. “I think I sprained it during the Los Cabos finals, and it’s been quite painful lately. It felt like other parts of my body started giving out, with muscle tension in my hamstring and quad, and I could feel my knee acting up. It was a combination of issues that escalated due to overcompensation for my ankle injury. Quite frustrating, really.”
Shapovalov’s exit also meant he was the third Canadian to fall in the first round, with Newmarket’s Liam Draxl becoming the fourth soon after his withdrawal against Svajda.
Now, the hopes of Canada finding its first homegrown champion of the ATP’s Open Era rely heavily on Félix Auger-Aliassime from Montreal, as Gabriel Diallo also had to retire due to injury during his match on Monday night.
Auger-Aliassime, who reached the quarterfinals at both the French Open and Wimbledon, stands as the country’s best chance of breaking the 68-year drought.
Ranked fourth in the world and seeded second behind Zverev — the recent French Open champion who fell to World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon final — Auger-Aliassime will start his campaign on Wednesday night against France’s Titouan Droguet (ranked 119th), following a first-round bye.
