Zverev, Rune, Fonseca in Loaded Top Quarter in… National Bank Open

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You do not have to look far down the draw for the 2025 National Bank Open in Toronto to find big names and fascinating early matchups.

The draw was made on Friday at Sobeys Stadium before the first 96-player event in the tournament’s history kicks off over the weekend. It did not take long for some fascinating storylines to emerge as the top quarter of the draw includes three former National Bank Open champions as well as the biggest-name young gun on tour.

Before the first balls are struck, let’s break down the 2025 Toronto draw.

Top seed Alexander Zverev has a potential round-three blockbuster on the horizon. After opening his campaign against either Adam Walton or Benjamin Bonzi, he could meet rising Brazilian star Joao Fonseca in round three.

The 18-year-old is considered one of the hottest prospects on the ATP Tour. He won the ATP NextGen Finals at the end of 2024 and reached the third round of both Roland-Garros Open and Wimbledon. He will play a qualifier in the first round and would face No. 32 seed Matteo Arnaldi in the second.

Holger Rune, the fifth seed who is Zverev’s projected quarter-final opponent, could have his hands full in his opening match against big-serving Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, assuming the Frenchman beats his qualifier opponent in the first round. Rune may also need to go through a former champion to get to the quarter-finals, as both 2021 Toronto winner Daniil Medvedev, the 10th seed, and defending champion Alexei Popyrin, seeded 18th, are both in his section of the draw and potential fourth-round opponents for the Dane.

The two former champions could meet in the third round.

Third seed Lorenzo Musetti leads the second quarter of the draw, where the in-form Denis Shapovalov is lurking. The 22nd-seeded Canadian is coming home fresh off his second title of the year in Los Cabos and could meet Musetti in the fourth round.

First, he will have to beat either Learner Tien or a qualifier potentially followed by 16th seed Tomas Mahac, although the Czech could meet 2021 Toronto runner-up Reilly Opelka in the second round. Eighth seed Casper Ruud is also in that quarter.

Fans following the Citi Open in Washington, DC, this week could have some déjà-vu in Toronto as fourth seed Ben Shelton and seventh seed Frances Tiafoe are once again on a collision course. The two Americans are facing off at the ATP 500 event on Friday in the quarter-finals and are projected to meet again in the last eight in Toronto.

That third quarter of the draw led by the two Americans is stacked. Tiafoe’s section includes former Masters 1000 champions Cameron Norrie and Stefanos Tsitsipas, as well as 2023 Toronto runner-up Alex de Minaur. Shelton could have another all-American clash in round three with Brandon Nakashima.

Félix Auger-Aliassime, the top Canadian in the draw, is also in that quarter. After a bye, he will face either Hugo Dellien or Fabian Marozsan. His first projected seeded opponent is No. 13 Flavio Cobolli in the third round before potentially meeting Shelton in round four. Canadian Alexis Galarneau could meet Cobolli in round two if he beats Arthur Rinderknech.

Gabriel Diallo could get a shot at revenge for his narrow round-two loss at Wimbledon to Taylor Fritz in the third round in Toronto, where the pair are projected to meet in the bottom quarter. Diallo will face either former Cincinnati champion Borna Coric or wildcard Matteo Gigante in his opening match, while the second-seeded Fritz will kick off his campaign against either Roberto Carballes Baena or Camilo Ugo Carabelli.

Former Madrid champion Andrey Rublev and Miami champion Jakub Mensik are potential quarter-final opponents for Fritz or Diallo in that last quarter of the draw.

One journey ends, two more begin

Heading into the draw, something Canadian fans were keeping an eye on was where Vasek Pospisil would land in his final professional tournament. The 35-year-old and his fans will have to wait a bit longer to find out who he will play in what could be his final match, as Pospisil drew a qualifier in round one.

If he wins, he would meet 30th seed Nuno Borges in the second round, with Ruud potentially waiting in round three.

While Pospisil is competing in his last tournament before retirement, two young Canadians will be making their ATP Tour singles debuts.

Liam Draxl, who earned his spot in the NBO main draw by winning the Road to the NBO, has the biggest popcorn match of the first round. He will meet 2022 Montreal champion Pablo Carreno Busta in his first singles match in an ATP Tour event. The winner will get to play 15th seed Arthur Fils. They are in the bottom section of the draw with Fritz and Diallo.

18-year-old Nicolas Arseneault will also be making his ATP Tour debut. He received a wildcard and will face veteran Laslo Djere in his first match on tour. His reward for a win would be a date with the defending champion, Popyrin.

Main draw play gets underway on Sunday, July 27. The seeds will kick off their tournaments on Tuesday and Wednesday. The qualifying and doubles draws will be announced soon.

The ATP's best return to Toronto this summer for the National Bank Open presented by Rogers July 26 to Aug. 7, 2025 at Sobeys Stadium. 2025 Tickets are on sale. Get your tickets today!

Feature Photo : Pascal Ratthe