The news broke just yesterday that Rafael Nadal will not take part in the American Tour’s inaugural Masters 1000, which will be contested for men in Montreal this year. Therefore, without Novak Djokovic, who is also suspended for Canadian territory due to his vaccination status, as well as Alexander Zverev, who is in the middle of his rehabilitation, three of the top six players in the ATP rankings will be missing, making way for a trio that seems to stand out to fight for the Fight final victory: Daniil Medvedev, Carlos Alcaraz and Stefanos Tsitsipas. Zoom in on the main favorites from the Montreal tournament, as well as those who could cause an upset at this only meeting of the ATP calendar in Jacques Cartier’s country.

The favorite to win the Masters 1000 in Montreal: Daniil Medvedev

In the absence of three players who would clearly have been considered among the main favorites of this tournament, Daniil Medvedev is the only player who is part of the current world elite and was signed in Montreal. Knowing that the pressure of defending points could be a weight during the tournament, the Russian seems to have a lead over the majority of his opponents.

Currently hosted at the Los Cabos tournament, following his absence from Wimbledon, he has shown great solidity for his return to the circuit after not playing for almost a month and a half. He remained a disappointment on turf throughout the season, even if that wasn’t one of his goals early in the season, but he seems to have worked well on the cement and is rather calm in Los Cabos in a tournament where he could profile Meet Cameron Norrie or Félix Auger-Aliassime in the finale just to play a real test match before the big deadlines of this American tour arrive.

The other contenders for the final victory of the Masters 1000 in Montreal: Carlos Alcaraz, Stefanos Tsitsipas or Nick Kyrgios?

• Stefanos Tsitsipas: the fierce Greek Formidable player on hard court

If you had to give a name right away to name Daniil Medvedev’s main opponent in Montreal, the name Stefanos Tsitsipas would certainly be on everyone’s lips. The Greek has had a very good season on grass, losing only twice to the same opponent: Nick Kyrgios. Frightening on American cement during the tour, he certainly took the time to mentally recharge his batteries, which was one of his main mistakes early in the summer, as illustrated by his loss to Kyrgios in Australia, to return in top mental form for the US tour. A semifinalist alongside Toronto for the same Canadian Masters 1000 last year, he also has many points to defend if he is to eventually bid for a bottom four seed and retain his fifth place finish.

• Carlos Alcaraz: Fatigue and transition, too complicated for the young Spaniard?

Carlos Alcaraz, who played a lot after Wimbledon and mainly played two tournaments on clay in Hamburg and Umag, has only been able to start preparing for the hard court for a few days. Arriving in Montreal mid-week, the adjustment could get complicated for one who has only made good marks in recent tournaments leading up to the finals.

The only thing that remains is that the 19-year-old Spaniard can no longer make a turn in the final and could therefore get stuck in the decisive moments. It’s up to him to live up to any hopes placed in him and try to pick up some valuable points on a surface that doesn’t suit his physique but could give him more winning shots.

• Nick Kyrgios: a body recovered and a service to be rendered

End the quirky Australian’s behavioral issues and now put himself into performance for whoever seems to have found a balance off the court, particularly with his new girlfriend, whom he is very fond of praising for his recent form and regained tennis to explain.

In terms of play, however, Nick Kyrgios has hardly changed his shots. Playing by taking a little less risk and relying on his service rather than trying to take stock with a few strokes with the racquet, a month ago in London his tennis reached new heights and allowed him to reach the final of the to achieve the London Grand Slam.

The conditions in Canada should also suit the Aussie well. Anyone who appreciates fast surfaces should look forward to a center court, which is often referred to as one of the fastest of the year. His fate will obviously depend on the draw reserved for him because contrary to what his last performance suggested, namely a place in the top 20 of the ATP ranking thanks to Wimbledon points, this is due to ATP points not the case Decision not to award a point at this Grand Slam due to the absence of Russians and Belarusians. Currently 57th in the world will therefore not be protected by the tie and will therefore have to hope at the mercy of fate to try and put in a good performance.

The challengers who can surprise

With Nadal in 2019, Zverev in 2017, Murray in 2015, Nadal in 2013 and Djokovic in 2011 often not conducive to upsets, we need to go back far enough in the years to have a surprise winner of this Masters 1000 find of Montréal.

However, it is often an opportunity to see certain players reveal themselves and play some of their best tennis matches. There again shone the locals of the stage, Denis Shapovalov, who notably beat Canadian legend Milos Raonic in 2017 by reaching the semifinals against Alexander Zverev or Félix Auger-Aliassime at the last edition in 2019, there could be some surprises this year given the significant homogeneity of the table.

Among the players who have prepared the best and who will be beatable this week with very complicated profiles, we will mention the British Norrie, who is still just as solid on fast surfaces, but also the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, who has his season corresponds on clay, seems to have found an excellent level on the pitch.

Other less well-known players like Frances Tiafoe, Maxime Cressy or even Botic van de Zandschulp will also be very difficult to play because of their impact on the serve for the latter two and in exchange for the former.

Of course, for those players who still have a question mark, the return of Gaël Monfils will be closely watched for the one who has not played since last May due to injury and who we hope is fully back on his feet, to be competitive a tournament he loves and where he reached the semi-finals at the last edition in 2019.