Montreal’s National Bank Open faces withdrawals and early upsets

By Liam Tremblay — 6 August 2026 — 3 min read

Montreal is experiencing a challenging week at the National Bank Open, with several top Canadian players withdrawing due to injuries and a significant number of seeded players being eliminated early. Félix Auger-Aliassime, Gabriel Diallo, and Denis Shapovalov are all sidelined, impacting the local presence at the tournament.

Guillaume Marx, Tennis Canada’s vice-president of high performance, acknowledged the situation, stating that healthy top players are crucial. He noted that the timing of these injuries is disappointing.

Canadian Players Sidelined

Auger-Aliassime, a local favourite, withdrew before his opening match on Wednesday. He sustained a back injury during a practice session two days prior. His withdrawal followed first-round retirements by fellow Montrealer Diallo and Shapovalov, who is from Richmond Hill, Ontario, on Tuesday.

Marx expressed optimism regarding Auger-Aliassime’s injury, suggesting it is a known issue that typically resolves quickly. Auger-Aliassime had trained in Montreal for two weeks leading up to the tournament and was the main attraction for Wednesday night’s Centre Court session, which was sold out. He had entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed.

The outlook for Diallo is less clear. The 24-year-old retired from his opening-round match due to what appeared to be a leg injury. Marx confirmed that Diallo will miss the upcoming ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati, but he did not provide a timeline for his return. The U.S. Open, the final Grand Slam of the year, is scheduled to begin on August 23.

Shapovalov also retired on Tuesday after suffering an ankle injury. He had recently returned to competition, reaching the final of an ATP 250 tournament in Los Cabos, Mexico, after a month-long absence due to various injuries. He is currently ranked No. 43 in the world.

Tournament Challenges and Depth

Marx highlighted the physical demands of the ATP calendar, particularly the transition from grass and clay-court seasons to the North American hard-court swing. He explained that these transitions are critical moments for players and often lead to increased susceptibility to injuries, with hard courts potentially aggravating existing issues.

The intense schedule leaves little room for players who are not at full health, according to Marx. He noted that the sustained injuries are unique but reflect the broader challenges faced by players, where even slight reductions in performance can be detrimental.

Beyond the injuries, the tournament has seen numerous upsets. Twelve seeded players, including top seed Alexander Zverev and fourth seed Daniil Medvedev, were eliminated on Wednesday. This marks the first time since 1991 that an ATP Masters 1000 event has reached the round of 32 without a player ranked in the world’s top five.

Despite these challenges, Marx remains confident that the tournament will crown a deserving champion. He pointed to the depth of the field, mentioning players like 19-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar, who he described as a “fantastic player” and a “true revelation this summer.” Other players like Alex de Minaur and Lorenzo Musetti were also noted for their potential.

Thursday’s Centre Court day session includes De Minaur facing Britain’s Cameron Norrie, following a match between Argentina’s Mariano Navone and France’s Arthur Fils in the third round. The evening session features Jodar against Musetti, followed by American Frances Tiafoe playing France’s Arthur Rinderknech.

This report was first published on August 6, 2026.

Source: tsn.ca