10 players who could benefit most from Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic’s Canadian Open withdrawals
ATPSunday, 26 July 2026 at 23:00
The Canadian Open has suffered several major withdrawals from the main draw and, for the second consecutive year, will not feature Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz or Novak Djokovic. The absence of the three biggest title favorites leaves the door wide open for new contenders to emerge in what could become the most unpredictable Masters 1000 event of the season.
While Sinner and Djokovic opted out primarily for scheduling reasons amid the growing demands of the expanded two-week Masters 1000 format, Alcaraz's withdrawal comes as he continues recovering from the wrist injury that has sidelined him for the past three months.
As a result, the tournament loses the three dominant figures who enter virtually every event as the leading favorites, creating a rare opportunity for new names to fight for the title. Montreal has produced unexpected champions on several occasions in recent years, and this year's edition appears perfectly set up for another surprise.
Recent French Open champion and Wimbledon finalist Alexander Zverev, defending champion Ben Shelton and Canadian star Félix Auger-Aliassime are among the players whose title chances have significantly improved. Below, we take a look at the 10 players with the most to gain from the withdrawals in Montreal.
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1. Alexander Zverev
World No. 2 Alexander Zverev arrives as the overwhelming favorite in Montreal, a tournament he previously won back in 2017 after defeating Roger Federer in a memorable final to capture his maiden Masters 1000 title. Since then, his best result came with a semifinal run in 2024, alongside several quarterfinal appearances.
The reigning French Open champion and recent Wimbledon finalist has broken through another barrier in recent months, proving he can move closer to the level of Sinner and Alcaraz — or at least establish himself as the biggest threat to them. With the three biggest names absent, the German is expected to take control of the field and has a golden opportunity to show he truly belongs one step ahead of the rest of the ATP Tour.
2. Félix Auger-Aliassime
Canada has not celebrated a home finalist since Milos Raonic in 2013, and Félix Auger-Aliassime perhaps arrives with more confidence than ever before. He will be the second seed in the tournament, with the support of the home crowd potentially providing the extra push he needs to reach the third Masters 1000 final of his career.
His previous results in Canada have not been particularly remarkable, with the quarterfinals in 2022 standing as his best performance. Since then, however, he has suffered three consecutive early exits at his home event. The world No. 4 leads the bottom half of the draw, and if he adapts quickly to the Montreal conditions, he will undoubtedly be one of the leading contenders for the title.
3. Ben Shelton
It was Ben Shelton who fully capitalized on the absence of the biggest names one year ago. The American defeated Flavio Cobolli, Alex de Minaur and Taylor Fritz on his way to the final, before edging Karen Khachanov in a third-set tiebreak to claim his maiden Masters 1000 title and firmly establish himself among the world's elite.
This time, Shelton faces the added pressure of defending both his title and ranking points, although the withdrawals of Sinner, Alcaraz and Djokovic certainly improve his chances once again. It represents another excellent opportunity for the American, who could risk falling out of the top 10 if he fails to produce another deep run.
Ben Shelton won his first Masters 1000 title at Canadian Open
4. Daniil Medvedev
The six-time Masters 1000 champion — including the Canadian Open title in 2021 — remains one of the biggest names in the draw and has consistently shown he can challenge the very best when playing with confidence. Throughout 2026, however, the Russian has been rebuilding after a couple of inconsistent seasons and has yet to fully rediscover the form that once kept him firmly inside the world's top three and regularly competing in Grand Slam finals.
Medvedev recently parted ways with coach Thomas Johansson following an early Wimbledon exit and enters a period of transition as he searches for greater clarity in his game. Sometimes a coaching change provides an immediate confidence boost, and with only third-round points to defend from last year, he arrives with relatively little pressure. If he can string together a few victories, he could quickly become one of the main contenders for the title.
5. Alex de Minaur
The Australian has often struggled to fully assert himself at Masters 1000 level. He has frequently gone deep into tournaments, only to lose momentum in the latter stages. De Minaur was runner-up in Montreal back in 2023, falling to Jannik Sinner, and returned in 2025 to reach the quarterfinals — another encouraging result at a venue where he has consistently performed well.
This tournament offers De Minaur another chance to prove he truly belongs among the world's elite. As the third seed, he enters with his highest seeding yet in Canada, trailing only Zverev and Auger-Aliassime, meaning he would avoid both until a potential semifinal. In a draw without Sinner, Alcaraz and Djokovic, the opportunity to finally capture a Masters 1000 title becomes more realistic than ever.
Alex De Minaur reached his only Masters 1000 final at the 2023 Canadian Open, where he lost to Jannik Sinner.
6. Taylor Fritz
The American missed several months through injury, but whenever he has been on court he has quickly reminded everyone why he remains one of the best players in the world. There are few doubts about his consistency, even when he is not performing at his absolute peak, as he regularly finds ways to produce deep runs at major tournaments.
Hard courts remain the surface where his game is most effective, and after several weeks of competition since returning from injury, the North American hard-court swing represents the perfect opportunity for Fritz to once again establish himself as one of the leading contenders on the ATP Tour.
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7. Andrey Rublev
The Russian has lost some of the prominence he once enjoyed and currently sits at world No. 14. After spending years as a consistent top-10 player, Rublev has struggled to make deep runs at Masters 1000 events, although he remains one of the biggest names on the ATP Tour.
He reached the Canadian Open final in 2024 after defeating Jannik Sinner along the way, only to be stunned by Alexei Popyrin in the championship match. Last year, he followed that up with another solid run to the quarterfinals. With the biggest names absent once again, Rublev has another chance to remind everyone why he has long been considered one of the tour's most dangerous players.
The last time the Canadian Open was played in Montreal (2024), Rublev eliminated Sinner on his way to the Final, but ended up being upset by Alexie Popyrin.
8. Lorenzo Musetti
Lorenzo Musetti will play his first tournament in three months after recovering from the injury that forced him to miss both Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Following a breakthrough 2025 season that saw him establish himself inside the world's top five by the end of the year, the Italian has struggled with injuries throughout 2026 and has been unable to replicate those results.
He returns on hard courts without major expectations for his comeback event. Musetti has never progressed beyond the third round in Canada and has yet to fully convince on the surface, but this could represent an opportunity to show further growth and maturity in his game. Given his talent, a deep run in one of the most unpredictable Masters 1000 tournaments of the season certainly cannot be ruled out.
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9. Arthur Fils
The Frenchman has also been held back by injuries this season, although whenever he has been fit he has shown he possesses the level to compete near the very top. Despite missing several major tournaments this year — including the Australian Open and Roland Garros — the 22-year-old still sits inside the top 10 of the ATP Race, highlighting the consistency he has displayed whenever healthy.
Fils has virtually no points to defend for the remainder of the season after the injury that sidelined him during the closing months of 2025, meaning he enters the upcoming tournaments with relatively little pressure. Owning an impressive 23-8 record this season and the ATP 500 Barcelona Open title, the start of the hard-court swing makes him one of the most intriguing names to watch and one of the brightest talents among the new generation.
Arthur Fils, France, during Madrid Open Tennis
10. Joao Fonseca
The 19-year-old continues searching for greater consistency at ATP level, but he has repeatedly shown he possesses the talent required to challenge the very best players in the world. Still developing physically and mentally, the Brazilian has already earned enormous respect inside the locker room, and on hard courts his explosive forehand can be particularly dangerous for any opponent.
Fonseca was eliminated in the first round last year, but his development since then has been remarkable. Now ranked world No. 27, he may not enter the tournament among the leading favorites, but he is undoubtedly one of the players every top seed would prefer to avoid — especially during the early rounds. The South American will be aiming to take another significant step forward as the hard-court swing begins.
Canadian Open — Men’s Singles Finals (2016–2025)
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Final Result |
| 2025 | Ben Shelton | Karen Khachanov | 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(3) |
| 2024 | Alexei Popyrin | Andrey Rublev | 6-2, 6-4 |
| 2023 | Jannik Sinner | Alex de Minaur | 6-4, 6-1 |
| 2022 | Pablo Carreño Busta | Hubert Hurkacz | 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 |
| 2021 | Daniil Medvedev | Reilly Opelka | 6-4, 6-3 |
| 2020 | — | — | Tournament cancelled (COVID-19) |
| 2019 | Rafael Nadal | Daniil Medvedev | 6-3, 6-0 |
| 2018 | Rafael Nadal | Stefanos Tsitsipas | 6-2, 7-6(4) |
| 2017 | Alexander Zverev | Roger Federer | 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2016 | Novak Djokovic | Kei Nishikori | 6-3, 7-5 |
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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