The National Bank Open in Montreal delivered a historic wave of early upsets on the ATP Tour, highlighted by second seed Alexander Zverev suffering a surprising opening defeat against Dutch opponent Tallon Griekspoor. According to tournament reports and official match results, the hard-court Masters 1000 event was thrown wide open after rain delays disrupted play and top-tier contenders exited the draw prematurely.
Zverev Fails to Capitalize on Open Draw in Montreal
Alexander Zverev arrived in Montreal as one of the premier favorites to claim the Masters 1000 title, especially following the high-profile withdrawals of Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic. Yet, the German star could not capitalize on the depleted field. According to ATP Tour match accounts, Zverev stumbled in his opening match, falling to Tallon Griekspoor in a closely contested battle that exposed vulnerabilities on the Canadian hard courts.
Persistent rain interruptions further complicated the schedule at IGA Stadium, forcing players to adjust their routines and wait out lengthy delays. The Dutch player maintained his composure through the weather stoppages to seal a straight-sets victory, sending shockwaves through the tournament draw.
Canada Loses All Top-Five Seeds Amid Early Drama
The exit of Zverev compounded earlier disappointments for the host nation and tournament organizers. According to sports wire services and tournament updates from Infobae, the simultaneous elimination of Zverev and the injury-forced withdrawal of Canadian hopeful Félix Auger-Aliassime left the event entirely devoid of any remaining players ranked in the ATP Top 5.
Weather Disruptions and Tactical Shifts
Montreal weather proved to be an unpredictable antagonist for players attempting to find their rhythm.
For Zverev, the intermittent delays disrupted his baseline timing.
Implications for the ATP Masters 1000 Race
With traditional favorites eliminated before the weekend rounds, lower-seeded players and qualifiers suddenly found a wide-open path toward a Masters 1000 crown.
Players remaining in the draw suddenly faced an accelerated mental shift, transitioning from underdogs fighting for ranking points to genuine title contenders.
