The Montreal Masters 1000 got off to a chaotic start on Sunday. Heavy rain at IGA Stadium forced the suspension of three first-round matches on the opening day of the 2026 Canadian Open. Organisers were forced to deal with repeated interruptions throughout the day as storms rolled across the city.
Only two matches completed
Just two matches were played to completion between downpours. Shang Juncheng recorded his first win since the Australian Open with a convincing 6-3, 6-3 victory over Argentina's Adolfo Daniel Vallejo. The 21-year-old Chinese player displayed impressive composure, not facing a single break point across two sets. On the adjacent court, Spain's Jaume Munar dispatched Australia's Rinky Hijikata 7-6(3), 6-3 to advance to the second round, sealing the opener with a controlled tiebreak.
Three matches to resume Monday
Weather conditions prevented the conclusion of three other contests. Aleksandar Kovacevic and Nuno Borges were locked at one set apiece after the American took the first-set tiebreak 7-6(7) before losing the second 2-6, with a decider still to play. Michael Zheng and Miomir Kecmanovic were also halted after splitting sets. A third match between home hope Alexis Galarneau and Vit Kopriva was also postponed. These matches will resume on Monday, adding pressure to an already packed schedule as the seeded players enter at the second-round stage.
A depleted field
Beyond the weather disruption, this Masters 1000 event is notable for the absence of its biggest stars. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who won a historic six consecutive Masters 1000 titles in 2026, has opted to rest ahead of Cincinnati. Carlos Alcaraz, who has not competed since withdrawing from Barcelona in April with a wrist injury, will also delay his return until Cincinnati. Novak Djokovic has likewise declined to participate without specifying a reason.
Alexander Zverev, the world No. 3, stands as the top-ranked player in the draw alongside local favourite Felix Auger-Aliassime and defending champion Ben Shelton. Organisers are hoping for dry conditions on Monday to catch up on the backlog and properly launch the first Masters 1000 of the North American swing. (ATP Tour, TennisTemple)
