|
25 Jul 2026 | 21.26
The ATP Masters 1000 in Montreal 2026 presents an extraordinary opportunity for many players with the absences of Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic. Alexander Zverev is the top favorite, but names like Ben Shelton, Daniil Medvedev, Félix Auger-Aliassime, and Alex de Minaur have enough arguments to dream of a title of enormous importance.
Rarely does a Masters 1000 offer such a clear sense of opportunity. The absence of the top players opens up a scenario where many will feel they can achieve one of the greatest successes in their careers. Managing that added pressure and taking advantage of a much more open draw than usual will be key. Here are the five top title contenders in Toronto.
Top Favorites for the Title at the Canadian Masters 1000
1. Alexander Zverev, the main rival to beat
If there is one man who should attract much attention, it is Alexander Zverev. The German has regained all the confidence he seemed to have lost during a tough period, and his title at Roland Garros marked a significant breakthrough. Wimbledon confirmed this trend, reaching the final and showing that he once again feels capable of winning on any stage.
His combination of serve, solidity from the baseline, and ability to cover the court takes on a particularly dangerous dimension on hard courts. Zverev also has a magnificent opportunity to reclaim a Masters 1000 title, something he has not achieved since 2024.
The absence of Sinner, Alcaraz, and Djokovic inevitably changes his position in the tournament. He is no longer just one of the contenders: he will be the man everyone wants to defeat. This status will also pose an interesting mental test after regaining the habit of competing for major titles.
Zverev knows perfectly well how to win events of this caliber and arrives with a confidence that is hardly comparable to that of practically any other player in the draw. If he manages to maintain the level shown in recent months, anything other than seeing him competing for the title would be a surprise.
2. Ben Shelton wants to defend his crown
There are few better scenarios for Ben Shelton than the North American hard court tour. The American finds ideal conditions to exploit the power of his serve and aggressiveness, and he thrives particularly well in intense environments.
But there is an even more significant argument: Shelton is the reigning champion in Canada. He was able to capitalize last year on a similar power vacuum situation to capture one of the most important titles of his career, and now he returns knowing exactly what it takes to do it again.
His tennis is especially dangerous when he can dictate play with his first strike. On a hard court where he can rack up many free points with his serve, Shelton has the ability to significantly shrink his opponents' margins and decide matches with flashes of inspiration.
Furthermore, he arrives relatively physically and mentally fresh for one of the most crucial stretches of the season for his aspirations. The North American tour always holds a special moment for him, and successfully defending a Masters 1000 crown would mark a new qualitative leap in his career.
3. Daniil Medvedev and an opportunity to return to his roots
It is impossible to compile a list of candidates in these circumstances without including Daniil Medvedev. Despite the doubts surrounding his current form, there are few players in the draw with a comparable track record in major tournaments on hard courts.
The Russian urgently needs to rediscover himself. The split with Thomas Johansson marks a new phase, and it is still unclear what the consequences will be. It could end up being the definitive realization of a worrying stagnation or serve as the catalyst he needed to regain his form.
Toronto is the perfect stage to test this. The North American hard court swing is deeply intertwined with the best moments of Medvedev's career. His exceptional defensive skills, the discomfort he causes opponents, his serve, and that unorthodox style of play that has historically posed many problems all find a favorable environment here.
More than reinventing himself, Medvedev may need to return to his roots. Regain that almost insolent confidence that allowed him to make every major hard court tournament his territory. Without the current top three players in the draw, there is an opportunity that a player with his experience should see as unbeatable.
4. Félix Auger-Aliassime, facing a dream opportunity at home
There may be players with better recent results, but few will have a motivation comparable to Félix Auger-Aliassime. Competing in front of his home crowd as the second seed turns Montreal into one of the most significant tournaments of his season.
The Canadian has long been chasing a success capable of definitively elevating the stature of his career. He has shown that his best version can compete with practically anyone, although consistency remains a pending issue.
Toronto offers conditions that should favor his tennis. If he finds high percentages of first serves and manages to take control with his forehand, Auger-Aliassime can become an extremely challenging opponent to stop. His status as the second seed should also provide him with a privileged position in the draw.
There will be evident pressure. Being one of the main candidates in front of his fans can either be fuel or a burden. If he manages to turn the expectations into positive energy, there will be few better opportunities to win one of the most special titles possible for a Canadian tennis player.
5. Álex de Miñaur seeks the necessary freshness to make a big impact
Perhaps he is the least obvious candidate of the five, but it would be a serious mistake to rule out Álex de Miñaur. The Australian is not having his most brilliant season, although he has enough virtues to take advantage of an open tournament.
That is precisely why what has happened in recent weeks may be important. After Wimbledon, De Miñaur has been able to disconnect from tennis and experience a particularly significant moment in his personal life with his recent marriage to Katie Boulter. That break can provide him with the mental freshness needed to approach this tour with renewed enthusiasm.
His tennis always proves uncomfortable on hard courts. De Miñaur serves well, moves extraordinarily, and forces his opponents to constantly play an additional ball. In a lengthy tournament, his physical ability and that consistency can become differentiating factors. There is also a matter of legacy. The Australian has been in the elite for years, accumulating significant results, but still seeks a major title to add another shine to his career. Winning a Masters 1000 would be the perfect reward for all that regularity.
A Masters 1000 where many will feel it's his time
The absence of Sinner, Alcaraz, and Djokovic not only increases the chances of the five main favorites mentioned but also leads to the ATP Masters 1000 in Montreal 2026 presenting enormous parity, with numerous players capable of seizing any opportunity in the draw. Zverev starts with some advantage in the predictions, but establishing clear hierarchies in a tournament where a great week can alter the course for many is challenging.
It will be especially interesting to see how far some of the young players aiming to revolutionize the top tier of the circuit can go. Joao Fonseca, Jakub Mensik, Learner Tien, or Rafael Jódar have enough talent and personality to make a strong statement at an event of this magnitude. The absence of the main dominators presents a perfect opportunity for someone to accelerate their growth process and achieve results capable of reshaping their status.
Players with much more experience such as Flavio Cobolli and Jiri Lehecka should not go unnoticed either. Both have the weapons to compete against anyone, and in a scenario without clear favorites, stringing together victories could quickly place them in an unexpected position to fight for the title.
Another focal point will be on those needing to regain form after dealing with physical problems. Lorenzo Musetti, Jack Draper, and Arthur Fils reappear with significant questions surrounding their competitive state but also with enormous potential. If their bodies respond and they find their rhythm from the early rounds, any of them could become a major threat in the tournament.
In addition, there is a strong group of North American players approaching this segment of the calendar with a special motivation. Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, and Tommy Paul are well acquainted with these conditions and have enough experience to take advantage of an open draw. The North American swing tends to bring out a particularly dangerous version of many American players.
Therefore, speaking of five favorites does not limit Toronto to just five contenders. On the contrary. The sense of opportunity will be nearly universal, turning each round into a real challenge. With Sinner, Alcaraz, and Djokovic not acting as dominant figures, the gaps narrow, and the predictions become much more fragile. Zverev, Shelton, Medvedev, Auger-Aliassime, and De Miñaur have solid arguments, but rarely has a recent Masters 1000 presented so many contenders with legitimate reasons to believe that it could be their week.
-
25 Jul 2026 | 16:00Sinner, on his legacy: "I want to be remembered for the type of person I am" -
25 Jul 2026 | 12:00Auger-Aliassime and the opportunity of his life at the Masters 1000 in Canada -
24 Jul 2026 | 19:00"Federer knew he was very good and didn't deny it" -
25 Jul 2026 | 10:00Sinner says goodbye to the 9 Masters 1000 in a year with a surprising decision -
25 Jul 2026 | 11:00The calendar puts the Masters 1000 in Canada in check -
25 Jul 2026 | 21:00The 5 top favorites for the title at the Masters 1000 in Canada -
24 Jul 2026 | 20:00Lethal blow to the Masters 1000 in Canada: Sinner and Djokovic withdraw
