Draw Canadian Open ATP Toronto 2025: Alexander Zverev, Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz know their paths

The draw for the Masters 1000 Canadian Open in Toronto has been revealed, outlining the paths for the top favorites in a wide-open field. Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, and Ben Shelton now know their potential routes to the title, aiming to capitalize on the absence of four top-6 players, including Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

The Canadian Open this year features a remarkable number of withdrawals, with several big names missing from the draw. In addition to the world No. 1 and No. 2, others who will miss the tournament – due to rest or injury – include Novak Djokovic, Jack Draper, Tommy Paul, and Grigor Dimitrov.

It's difficult to identify clear favorites, especially considering that several of the top seeds aren't in their best form, and the Canadian Open itself has offered numerous surprises in recent years. In a 96-player draw, the first 32 seeds receive a bye in the first round and will have to wait to learn their opponents.

The first seed is Alexander Zverev, who awaits the winner between Adam Walton and Benjamin Bonzi. The German returns to the courts after a first-round Wimbledon defeat and without much confidence based on his recent results. He recently cited mental health issues, and doubts linger about what he can achieve in his first hardcourt tournament after the grass-court swing. Should he overcome his first second-round match, a potential clash with young star Joao Fonseca looms – though the Brazilian must first defeat a qualifier and Italian Matteo Arnaldi (32nd seed).

In the bottom half of the draw, the favorite is Taylor Fritz, who awaits either Camilo Ugo Carabelli or Roberto Carballes Baena – two players who are more clay-court specialists. A potential third-round clash against Borna Coric or Canadian star Gabriel Diallo appears on his path, and if he advances further, names like Jiri Lehecka and Arthur Fils could be next. It's a tricky path for perhaps the strongest contender given his current form and hardcourt conditions.

The third seed, Lorenzo Musetti, awaits the winner between Shang Juncheng – who is in the process of returning after a long injury – and a qualifier. The Italian seeks a comeback after an injury sidelined him in recent months and this could be an opportunity to regain confidence. Alex Michelsen in the third round and a potential fourth-round match against Denis Shapovalov appear as significant challenges in a tournament from which he could yield good results if he genuinely shows good physical condition and confidence.

Also marked as a potential candidate is the fourth seed, Ben Shelton, who feels more comfortable on hardcourts than anywhere else, and doesn't have too many highly ranked players in his early rounds. A potential debut clash against Marcos Giron and his compatriot Brandon Nakashima in the fourth round are the main challenges for Shelton, who appears more of a contender than ever in this Masters 1000.

Holger Rune is another player returning to the courts without much confidence. He will be the fifth seed and faces a potential opening clash against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard – a complicated draw to start and perhaps the most disadvantaged among the top eight seeds. The Dane suffered a painful first-round defeat at Wimbledon, seeing Nicolas Jarry come back from two sets down. He recently withdrew from the DC Open due to injury, adding to the doubts surrounding his return.

Other favorites include Casper Ruud (6th seed) – who awaits Roman Safiullin or a qualifier, while Frances Tiafoe (7th seed) awaits Daniel Altmaier or also a qualifier. In the case of Andrey Rublev (6th seed), a potential match against Mattia Bellucci or Hugo Gaston will mark the start of his journey.

Perhaps the most attractive first-round match of the tournament will be between two of the Tour's great talents who haven't secured a seeded spot. This is local player Jenson Brooksby – one of those who knows what it's like to defeat the world's best, and who, with confidence, is a threat to anyone. He faces the unpredictable Corentin Moutet in the first round, who always brings a spectacle to the courts, and it surely won't be an exception in Toronto. Expect entertainment in this first-round duel, which will undoubtedly occupy one of the main stadiums.

Additionally, we'll see a couple of interesting returns. 2022 champion Pablo Carreño Busta will make his comeback to the Canadian Open after a couple of seasons hampered by injuries that kept him from competing. The former top-10 player and Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist will seek to put on a show at the start of the tournament.

Also, local player Reilly Opelka returns to the court as he continues his path back to the top of the rankings. Opelka – one of the best servers seen in the last decade – was out of action for two years and is preparing to return to the Canadian Open. He faces the always complicated Sebastian Ofner, a former top-40 player with extensive experience and 7 wins against top-10 players in his career, who recently surprised Tommy Paul (13th) at Wimbledon, reaching the third round.