Nadal, Raonic, Lendl: Recent History at the NBO

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic have all won the event, for example, and sometimes faced off in Canada. 

Here’s a refresher of some of the history at the NBO, specifically looking at the Open Era that began in 1968. 

Who is the defending champion? 

Ben Shelton won the title last year in Toronto. He won’t ever forget it, either, since it marked the powerful lefty’s first Masters final. Typical of Shelton, he battled his way to the crown, winning three third-set tiebreakers. He was most in danger in a spicy semifinal, when Flavio Cobolli — now a Grand Slam finalist — couldn’t serve out the match in the third set. 

Who was the last player to win consecutive titles? 

That distinction goes to Shelton’s fellow lefty, Rafael Nadal, who more than once professed his fondness for the tournament and fans. Nadal went back-to-back in 2018 and 2019. 

The NBO proved to be Nadal’s most successful Masters event — not including clay, of course. 

Nadal never lost a final in Canada, too, only dropping one set. 

READ: Motivation still high for Zverev in Montreal after winning first Grand Slam title

Who was the last player to win consecutive titles in Montreal? 

Montreal has a way of producing surprise winners. Over the years, think of the likes of Alexei Popyrin, Pablo Carreno Busta, Andrei Pavel, Chris Woodruff and Mikael Pernfors, just to name a few. 

You have to go back to Ivan Lendl in 1987 and 1989 as the last player to repeat in Montreal. 

Who has won the most titles? 

If you guessed Nadal, think again. It’s Lendl, who won the title six times from 1980-89. He dropped a mere one set in those six triumphs, the first one he ever played in Canada against legendary Swede, Bjorn Borg. Borg had to retire with a knee injury in the second set in Toronto. 

It was only Lendl’s second career title and first in what now is categorized as a Masters tournament. 

Overall, Lendl made the final nine times, beaten by Andre Agassi in 1992 in the last one. 

What was the longest final?

In games and in the best-of-three format, that was last year (36) when Shelton downed Karen Khachanov 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-6 (3). There has never been a three-tiebreaker final in the Open Era in either the men’s or women’s tournament. 

Has a Canadian ever won the men’s tournament? 

No, but Milos Raonic came the closest in 2013. Raonic made the final — beating countryman Vasek Pospisil in a nailbiter of a semifinal. Unfortunately for Raonic, he came up against Nadal in the finale. 

Of the current crop, Denis Shapovalov has gone the deepest, making the semifinals in 2017 — beating Nadal before losing to this year’s top seed, Alexander Zverev. 

Have Canadians won any titles? 

Yes, in doubles, which has been a Canadian stronghold over the years. Daniel Nestor — one of tennis’ finest doubles players — teamed up with Serbia’s Nenad Zimonjic to oust the Bryan brothers in 2008. The all-Canadian duo of Nestor and Sebastien Lareau prevailed in 2000, going on to claim Olympic gold together two months later in Sydney, Australia. 

They were the first Canadian team to win it since Harry Fauquier and John Sharpe in 1968. 

Photo: Pascal Ratthé