Watch Round 2 — ATP Montreal (National Bank Open) Free.

What's at Stake

As the ATP Montreal (National Bank Open) moves into the second round, the tournament's top-seeded players make their highly anticipated debuts after receiving first-round byes. With crucial ATP ranking points and momentum on the line ahead of the final Grand Slam of the season, these early matchups are vital for securing a coveted spot in the round of 16. For the favorites, avoiding an early upset is essential to keep their championship aspirations alive on the Canadian hard courts.

Form Guide

The transition to the North American hard-court swing brings a fresh wave of momentum, with several players arriving in Montreal fresh off strong summer runs. While the top seeds look to quickly find their rhythm on this fast surface, the unseeded competitors hold a slight advantage in court adaptation, having already battled through grueling first-round matches to adjust to the local conditions.

Key Players to Watch

• The Top Seed — Entering the draw with a target on their back, the tournament's leading player must navigate a tricky opening match against a fully warmed-up opponent.
• The Hard-Court Specialist — Known for thriving on fast outdoor surfaces, this dangerous competitor possesses the powerful baseline game capable of triggering an early-round upset.
• The First-Round Qualifier — Having already secured momentum with consecutive wins in the preliminary rounds, this underdog enters the match with nothing to lose and peak rhythm.

Prediction

Expect the seeded players to face stiff resistance early on as they adjust to the pace of the Montreal courts against opponents who already have match play under their belts. While a few tight three-set battles are highly likely, the elite quality of the top seeds should ultimately prevail in the majority of these contests. The most probable outcome is for the top-ranked favorites to shake off some initial rust and advance to the round of 16 in hard-fought, straight-set victories.