Toronto Open: With Sinner, Alcaraz, and Djokovic absent, who can seize the opportunity to claim a Masters title?

For the men's event at the Canadian Open, this is the second straight "difficult" summer. Last year, the tournament suffered from a lack of talent due to the Paris Olympics; this year, it has been significantly impacted again for two reasons. Firstly, top players are dealing with recurring minor injuries; secondly, the event has been extended to 12 days and starts a week earlier. Consequently, if European players begin in Toronto, they may need to stay in North America for six to seven weeks. For Sinner, Alcaraz, Djokovic, and Draper, starting the U.S. Open preparations in Cincinnati in August seems more reasonable.

Despite this, the men's singles draw for Toronto has reached 96 players, making it the largest in history. With the absence of top names, players from the second tier will have plenty of opportunities.

Without the "Sinner-Alcaraz-Djokovic" trio, what are the highlights? After reviewing the draw, there are several matchups worth looking forward to:

Top seed Zverev may face young Brazilian star Fonseca in the third round, provided Fonseca first defeats a qualifier and then takes down last year's semifinalist, 32nd seed Anardi. This presents a fantastic opportunity for the emerging star.

Medvedev (2021 champion) and Poprin (2024 champion) are likely to face off early, as they have had a history of heated encounters.

Fifth seed Rune has recently been training with tennis legend Agassi. His first-round opponent could be the French powerhouse Perical, making his transformation something to watch.

The Canadian contingent is promising: Gabriel Diallo is in good form lately, while Shapovalov and Auger-Aliassime could shine if they regain confidence at home.

Tsitsipas has just split with girlfriend Badosa and temporary coach Ivanisevic, returning to his father's coaching system with Apostolos. He reached the finals in Canada in 2018 and aims to halt his ranking decline with a strong performance this time.

French youngster Fils is finally making his return, marking his first match since his injury in the five-set battle at the French Open, possibly facing Lehecka in the third round.

The first-round clash between Brooksby and Mutai is bound to be intense, as both players carry emotional tension that could spark fireworks.

So, who is most likely to capitalize on this opportunity to win? We can start with the top two seeds: Zverev and Fritz. Zverev's form has significantly declined since the Australian Open, and he recently trained at Nadal's academy. Eight years ago, he defeated Federer here to claim the title; can he regain that form?

Fritz has just reached the Wimbledon semifinals, showcasing the best form of his career. Despite consistent performances in recent years, he has only one Masters title to his name. With the absence of his three main rivals (Sinner, Alcaraz, Djokovic), this is his best chance to claim victory.

Shelton is competing in a Masters event for the first time as a top-four seed. He typically shines in Grand Slams but is also eager to maintain consistency throughout the season. He may face fellow American Giron or Nakashima in the first round, which is something to anticipate.

Last year's Toronto event (held alternately with Montreal) was almost doomed from the start due to a lack of star power. Besides the Olympics causing Djokovic and Alcaraz's absences, the schedule was also compressed. While there were some exciting matches, the outcomes didn't leave much of a lasting impression: Poprin won the title, and Anardi reached the semifinals, but overall, the event lacked buzz.

This year, the tournament organizers have begun discussing how to prevent the phenomenon of "star exodus" after Wimbledon. It is undeniable that the absence of top players will reduce the tension and excitement of the matches.

But will this affect fan enthusiasm? Will attendance decline? If the matches are intense and Canadian or American players perform well, even featuring a "Cinderella" story, the absence of big names may not seem so significant.

The new 12-day schedule is one of the long-considered reforms for Masters events by the ATP, and now is the time to test its success or failure. Will it successfully generate buzz, or will it feel drawn out and tedious? Let's wait and see. (Source: Tennis Home, Author: Spark)