National Bank Open presented by Rogers, Montreal Draw 2026

The 2026 Nationwide Financial institution Open draw is out, and it’s maybe probably the most uncared for of all Masters 1000s on the calendar.

The ATP gave the draw just some hundred phrases (in comparison with 1000+ for different tournaments) and high gamers frequently give the occasion a miss.

This yr is not any completely different as Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic are all absent, so the match feels very completely different from the opposite ATP Masters 1000 occasions we’ve seen this yr.

This leaves Alexander Zverev as the highest seed and presents one of many greatest alternatives of the yr for the chasing pack.

Whereas the shortage of star energy is at all times disappointing, it does create a extra unpredictable Masters draw, so hopefully there are some storylines over the subsequent fortnight.

Defending champion Ben Shelton returns seeking to show final yr’s breakthrough title was no fluke, dwelling favorite Félix Auger-Aliassime carries Canadian hopes, and gamers like João Fonseca, Rafael Jódar and Alexander Blockx all arrive with some respectable wins over the primary half of the yr.

Can Zverev capitalise on Sinner’s absence and shut the hole on the high of the rankings? Will Jack Draper play, or will or not it’s one other last-minute withdrawal? Right here’s how the draw shapes up.

Event Data

Canadian Open 2026 Seeds

Seeds

Alexander Zverev
Félix Auger-Aliassime
Alex de Minaur
Daniil Medvedev
Ben Shelton
Flavio Cobolli
Taylor Fritz
Jiří Lehečka
Casper Ruud
Andrey Rublev
Lorenzo Musetti
Learner Tien
Jakub Menšík
Valentin Vacherot
Frances Tiafoe
Francisco Cerúndolo
Tommy Paul
Arthur Fils
Luciano Darderi
Rafael Jódar
Karen Khachanov
João Fonseca
Arthur Rinderknech
Ugo Humbert
Alejandro Tabilo
Tomás Martín Etcheverry
Alexander Blockx
Brandon Nakashima
Ignacio Buse
Matteo Arnaldi
Zizou Bergs
Raphaël Collignon

Wild Playing cards

Protected Rating

Withdrawals

Fortunate Losers

Qualifiers

2026 Montreal Draw

High Half

Backside Half

PDF Draw

Ideas on the Draw

First Quarter: Led by Alexander Zverev (1)

Seeded Gamers: Alexander Zverev (1), Taylor Fritz (7), Learner Tien (12), Francisco Cerúndolo (16), Tommy Paul (17), Ugo Humbert (24), Matteo Arnaldi (30), Raphael Collignon (32)

Notable Early Matches

Evaluation

On paper, Zverev has landed one of many friendlier sections of the draw.

The German opens towards both Lorenzo Sonego or Tallon Griekspoor, two gamers he has loved appreciable success towards all through his profession (15-2 H2H mixed).

The actual check is prone to come later as Taylor Fritz tasks because the quarter-final opponent, and whereas the American had dominated their latest rivalry for a spell, Zverev emphatically ended that run with a straight-sets victory at Wimbledon and Taylor’s knee challenge appears to maintain cropping up.

Gaël Monfils, competing within the ultimate season of his profession, stays able to producing impressed tennis for brief stretches and he has performed nicely in Montreal with two semi-finals.

Alex Michelsen towards Jan-Lennard Struff additionally has upset potential. Michelsen continues to enhance on laborious courts and has proven he belongs at this stage, whereas Struff’s aggressive first-strike tennis at all times makes him harmful on sooner surfaces.

Tommy Paul additionally deserves respect regardless of an inconsistent season. His athleticism makes him awkward for nearly everybody exterior the very elite, however within the big-time matches he sometimes falls brief, and his loss to Majchrzak in Washington wasn’t precisely a super begin to the US Open sequence.

General, this quarter feels comparatively easy as Zverev has prevented lots of the draw’s greatest floaters and will anticipate to achieve the final eight.

Second Quarter: Led by Daniil Medvedev (4)

Seeded Gamers: Daniil Medvedev (4), Ben Shelton (5), Casper Ruud (9), Jakub Menšík (13), Karen Khachanov (21), João Fonseca (22), Alejandro Tabilo (25), Zizou Bergs (31)

Notable Early Matches

Evaluation

Virtually each part on this quarter comprises a participant able to making a critical run.

Medvedev headlines it, however there are only a few straightforward matches awaiting him (plus he was pictured practising with each knees taped). His opening encounter is prone to come towards Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, whose serve alone could make any hard-court match uncomfortable.

Ought to the Russian progress, Hubert Hurkacz doubtlessly awaits. Though accidents have plagued him of late, Hurkacz stays one of many Tour’s greatest servers and has troubled Medvedev earlier than.

Additional down sits Jakub Menšík. The Czech flopped in Washington however has firepower from each wings, and if he stays current mentally, then he’s able to going all the way in which.

Jack Draper’s return additionally deserves consideration. After a prolonged spell on the sidelines, the Brit might hardly have requested for a extra awkward opener than Terence Atmane. The French left-hander performs explosive tennis, and in case you’re not match sharp it’s going to be laborious work.

And can he even play? Being on the draw sheet is not any assure, as he withdrew from Washington final week regardless of travelling there. Was he injured, or did the Montreal wild card are available final minute, and he’d slightly play there? He was even listed to play within the Brownsburg Challenger in Indiana which takes half throughout the Cincy match, which he now too has a wildcard for. Messy.

Defending champion Ben Shelton can also be on this part and possibly has the cleanest path by the underside part.

The American’s serve stays one of many greatest weapons on Tour and faster North American laborious courts proceed to swimsuit his sport completely. If he rediscovers the extent that earned him the title twelve months in the past, one other quarter-final seems nicely inside attain, assuming he shrugs off the loss to Tabilo in Washington and avoids his customary three-set matches early doorways.

João Fonseca and Casper Ruud might additionally meet in an entertaining fourth-round contest. Fonseca’s explosive shot-making has already delivered a number of landmark victories this season, whereas Ruud, usually billed as merely a clay-court specialist, does have a US Open ultimate on his resume.

Third Quarter: Led by Alex de Minaur (3)

Seeded Gamers: Alex de Minaur (3), Jiří Lehečka (8), Lorenzo Musetti (11), Valentin Vacherot (14), Arthur Fils (18), Rafael Jódar (20), Alexander Blockx (27), Ignacio Buse (29)

Notable Early Matches

Evaluation

Whereas the second quarter is stacked with established names, this part feels just like the one probably to supply a shock semi-finalist.

Lehečka has been respectable on laborious courts over the past twelve months. However you by no means actually really feel completely assured in his sport.

The Czech might discover himself dealing with Alexander Blockx within the third spherical. The Belgian has developed into one of many Tour’s most intriguing younger gamers, possessing clear ball putting off each wings. He arrives after making the ultimate in Estoril, so he has no hard-court prep previous to Montreal.

Then there’s Rafael Jódar. He’s at present within the Washington semi-finals, and his all-court growth has been speedy sufficient that one other deep Masters run would hardly qualify as a shock.

The draw additionally provides us the opportunity of Denis Shapovalov having fun with a run on dwelling soil. Shapovalov made the semi-finals in 2017, taking out Del Potro and Nadal, however other than that he’s obtained a paltry 8:8 win-loss ratio at this occasion.

Shapo is enjoying the Los Cabos ultimate tomorrow, and he has a behavior of profitable titles out of nowhere then going quiet for a number of months, so can he produce in back-to-back weeks? A second-round assembly with Arthur Fils will surely produce some enjoyable shot-making, however I’ve my doubts.

Alex de Minaur is the highest seed on this part and possibly the person to beat. Can he win it? Perhaps, but it surely’s not unthinkable he booked his honeymoon throughout finals weekend (for these unaware, he obtained married on the Sunday of the Wimbledon ultimate 😁)

Whereas he’s usually referred to as one of many worst high 10 gamers in historical past on social media, no one works tougher for each level, and with a weakened draw he ought to fancy his possibilities of selecting up a 1000 title.

Fourth Quarter: Led by Félix Auger-Aliassime (2)

Seeded Gamers: Félix Auger-Aliassime (2), Flavio Cobolli (6), Andrey Rublev (10), Frances Tiafoe (15), Luciano Darderi (19), Arthur Rinderknech (23), Brandon Nakashima (28), Tomás Martín Etcheverry (26)

Notable Early Matches

Evaluation

All eyes in Montreal might be mounted on Félix Auger-Aliassime. The withdrawals of Sinner, Alcaraz and Djokovic have reworked the match panorama, and Auger-Aliassime finds himself with a possibility to seize the most important title of his profession in entrance of a house crowd.

I’ve my doubts as his bland tennis by no means screams M1000 winner and his draw isn’t easy. Brandon Nakashima is a possible third-round opponent; he’s at present within the Washington semi-finals after some respectable wins, so he could possibly be tough, though it’s not straightforward to again up week with one other straight after.

Additional up sits Frances Tiafoe. The American has patches of consistency, however you’ve nonetheless obtained to place him within the streaky performer bracket. At his finest, he can overwhelm virtually anybody with first-strike tennis and athleticism. At his worst, unforced errors arrive in clusters. Which model turns up usually determines how harmful this part turns into.

Flavio Cobolli additionally lands on this part after respectable leads to Paris and London. Can he ship on laborious courts?

Felix isn’t the one Canadian right here both, and one participant who might show notably harmful is Gabriel Diallo. The Canadian wildcard possesses the form of serve and forehand mixture that may translate nicely onto laborious courts and whereas his season has been patchy (9:17) if he can trip the house help by the opening rounds, a gathering with Rublev could possibly be fascinating.

Finest First-Spherical Matches to Watch

Jack Draper vs Terence Atmane – Draper couldn’t have drawn a a lot trickier return match. Atmane’s heavy left-handed forehand and aggressive court docket positioning make him a harmful opener for somebody missing latest match apply.

Matteo Berrettini vs Mariano Navone – Berrettini continues rebuilding after one other harm setback. Navone will relish extending rallies, making this an intriguing distinction in kinds.

Lorenzo Sonego vs Tallon Griekspoor – A top quality opening-round contest between two established High 50 gamers, with the winner incomes a crack at Alexander Zverev.

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard vs Botic van de Zandschulp – One of many greatest serves on Tour meets certainly one of its most clever tacticians.

Alex Michelsen vs Jan-Lennard Struff – Youth versus expertise. Michelsen continues climbing the rankings, whereas Struff stays able to overpowering opponents when his first serve is firing.

Denis Shapovalov vs Zachary Svajda – Shapovalov at all times attracts consideration in Canada, and a powerful opening efficiency might reignite hopes of one other deep run.