Rain Disrupts National Bank Open in Montreal, Forcing Multiple Postponements
The National Bank Open presented by Rogers in Montreal has been thrown into chaos by persistent heavy rain, disrupting the opening days of the men's main draw. On Sunday, August 2, only two of the fourteen scheduled matches were completed at IGA Stadium before thunderstorms rolled in, forcing the cancellation of the entire evening session, which was set to feature Canadian wild cards Gabriel Diallo and Alexis Galarneau. Play on Monday fared little better, with rain washing out all but a few minutes of the afternoon session, according to tournament officials.
Among the few results recorded on Sunday, China's Shang Juncheng defeated Paraguay's Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 6-3, 6-3 before the downpour, and Spain's Jaume Munar finished off Australia's Rinky Hijikata 7-6 (3), 6-3 in a brief window of dry weather. Two additional matches were left incomplete and will resume at a later time. The tournament's new 12-day format provides organizers with additional flexibility to reschedule, but the backlog is growing. As of Monday evening, a 27-match slate was scheduled, with several top names like Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov yet to play their first matches.
Tournament director Valérie Tétreault admitted she had been monitoring forecasts for a month leading into the event. “Every morning, I was looking at how things were shaping up,” she told Sportsnet. While she expressed confidence that the current forecast doesn't call for three consecutive days of rain, she acknowledged that the early-stage postponements could become logistically challenging. “I think it would become really complicated if we had three days of rain, but that’s not what’s currently being forecast,” she said.
Context: A Stacked Field and High Stakes in Montreal
The disruption comes at a critical juncture for the ATP Masters 1000 event, which runs from August 1-13 and features a highly competitive draw. Defending champion Ben Shelton is back, but the tournament has seen notable withdrawals from Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, and Carlos Alcaraz. World No. 2 Alexander Zverev enters as the top seed, with home favorite Felix Auger-Aliassime seeded second. The absence of several top stars underscores the importance of every match in a crowded summer hard-court season, and the rain delays only add to the pressure on players to perform on short notice.
The stakes are particularly high for the Canadian contingent. Montreal's Auger-Aliassime received a first-round bye and is scheduled to play his second-round match on Tuesday night, but his opponent remains uncertain as the all-French first-round match between Lucas Van Assche and Titouan Droguet was among those postponed. Denis Shapovalov, who reached the final in Los Cabos on Saturday, is slated to face American Zachary Svajda on Tuesday morning, but his participation is also uncertain—he reportedly may withdraw from doubles due to fatigue.
Local wild cards Galarneau and Diallo, both of whom were scheduled to play Sunday evening, will now take the court on Monday. Galarneau faces Czechia's Vit Kopriva, while Diallo meets French qualifier Kyrian Jacquet. Both matches will be crucial for Canadian fans, who have few home hopes left after early exits by several compatriots in qualifying.
Perspective: The New Format's Test and the Toll on Players
The rain delays at the National Bank Open serve as a real-world test for the expanded 12-day Masters 1000 format, which was introduced to reduce scheduling congestion and give top players more rest. While the extra days theoretically provide a buffer, the experience in Montreal shows that early-week rain can still create a significant backlog, especially when multiple matches are wiped out simultaneously. As Tétreault noted, while there are more days to reschedule, there are also more matches to make up, which can lead to a congested schedule later in the week.
Players are feeling the ripple effects. For Shapovalov, the quick turnaround from Los Cabos to Montreal, combined with the prospect of playing multiple matches in a short window if the weather clears, creates a physical test. The extended forecast includes more showers, which could force double-header days and put additional strain on athletes' bodies. The situation also highlights the growing trend of players withdrawing from events due to fatigue—Shapovalov's potential doubles withdrawal would be a case in point.
Beyond the immediate logistics, the rain has dampened what promised to be an emotional farewell for veteran Gael Monfils. The 39-year-old Frenchman, who announced his retirement at the end of the season, was scheduled to play his opening match Monday night against Poland's Kamil Majchrzak. Monfils has long cherished playing in Montreal, telling reporters, “The crowd has just been amazing over the years. For me, this type of feeling, I might have it back for the last time.” A rain delay only adds to the uncertainty of whether the crowd will get to give him the send-off he deserves.
The tournament now faces a race against the clock to get through first-round and second-round matches before the scheduled finals on August 13. Organizers will likely extend play into late evening hours and potentially schedule doubles matches on practice courts, as they have done in past rain-affected events. For now, players and fans alike are left watching the skies, hoping that the showers will finally move out and allow the tennis to take center stage.
For more on the tournament's challenges, see our coverage of the Washington Open and other outdoor events affected by weather.
Comments