Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev were both eliminated in their opening matches at the Montreal Masters 1000. The Canadian Open men's draw now features no top-5 players, an extraordinary situation for a tournament of this caliber.
Two Dutch players topple the top seeds
Zverev, the tournament's top seed, fell to World No. 69 Tallon Griekspoor 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-4. After claiming the opening set in a tiebreak, the German collapsed: 23 unforced errors including 12 on his forehand, winning just 41% of points on second serve. "This was probably the worst match of my season," admitted the World No. 3, playing his first match since Wimbledon. For Griekspoor, it was "one of the most special wins" of his career, having lost his previous four meetings against Zverev.
Medvedev, the fourth seed, suffered a similar fate against fellow Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, falling 6-3, 7-6(5). The Russian produced 40 unforced errors and missed the chance to reach 100 career Masters 1000 victories. "I just played a very bad match," he admitted.
A draw decimated like never before
The collapse extends well beyond these results. Before the tournament began, Jannik Sinner (World No. 1), Carlos Alcaraz (No. 3), and Novak Djokovic (No. 5) had already withdrawn. Felix Auger-Aliassime, the second seed and local favorite, pulled out with a back injury. Taylor Fritz (8th seed) and Flavio Cobolli (9th) fell in the first round.
Shelton and de Minaur, last men standing
Only two top-10 players remain in the draw: Ben Shelton, the defending champion and sixth seed, and Alex de Minaur (7th). The wide-open bracket creates a rare opportunity for outsiders. Casper Ruud, Lorenzo Musetti, and João Fonseca, who stunned Stefanos Tsitsipas the day before, are among the leading contenders for a title that has never seemed more accessible.
