The 2025 Canadian Open has been an intriguing tournament, as several players aim to win the title in the absence of the world’s number one and two.
In the aftermath of their Wimbledon final, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the 2025 Canadian Open.
They were joined in withdrawing by four-time champion Novak Djokovic, who doesn’t plan on returning to the court until the US Open.
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
In their absence, several players have taken advantage, including Alexander Zverev and Karen Khachanov, who both advanced to their first Masters 1000 semifinals of the season.
Only time will tell if either player, or the remaining quarterfinalists, Alex de Minaur, Ben Shelton, Andrey Rublev, or Taylor Fritz, can win the title, but it will certainly be interesting to see who prevails in Toronto.
A lot has been made of the court conditions in Toronto this year, with players comparing them to those in Montreal, as the event switches locations annually.
Commenting on the two locations, former ATP star John Isner has revealed whether he preferred playing the Canadian Open in Montreal or Toronto.
John Isner ‘liked’ how they switched between two locations but ‘preferred’ Montreal
During the latest episode of ‘Nothing Major’, Isner shared his thoughts on the two Canadian Open locations.
“I like how they do it. It’s a different look every year,” he said.
“I personally preferred Montreal. The city in my mind, I preferred it.
“I thought the atmosphere on site, there were crazy tennis fans there in a good way. But both tournaments were very solid, and I always enjoyed going up there.
“But I enjoyed the back and forth of it.”
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Isner’s co-host, Jack Sock, then weighed in with his thoughts, suggesting he preferred the tournament in Toronto.
“I liked the city of Toronto better, so I preferred that one. I think I might have played better in Montreal,” he said.
“I never had that great results there, so it was never an exciting week for me, to be honest.”
Former world number 11 Sam Querrey agreed with Sock, although he admitted he struggled at both events.
“I preferred Toronto, but I never had great results,” he said.
“I didn’t love either one, but I liked the city of Toronto more than the city of Montreal; therefore, I liked the tournament more.”
Isner, Sock, and Querrey all have their own opinions about Toronto and Montreal, but at which event did they actually perform the best?
John Isner, Jack Sock, and Sam Querrey’s best Canadian Open performances
Throughout their careers, the trio made several trips to Toronto and Montreal, enjoying varying degrees of success.
John Isner’s Canadian Open recordToronto – SF (2012, 2021)Montreal – QF (2015)Jack Sock’s Canadian Open recordToronto – 3R (2016)Montreal – 3R (2015)Sam Querrey’s Canadian Open recordToronto – 3R (2012)Montreal – 3R (2017)
Whilst Sock and Querrey struggled in Canada, Isner often found himself making deep runs.
However, whilst he claimed he preferred Montreal, his career-best results came in Toronto, where he reached two semifinals, in 2012 and 2021.
Entering the tournament as the number eight seed, Isner made a fantastic run through to the last four in 2012, before losing out to Frenchman Richard Gasquet.
RoundOpponentResultScoreSFRichard Gasquet (14)Loss6-7, 3-6QFMilos Raonic (16)Win7-6, 6-43RPhillipp Kohlschreiber (12)Win6-7, 6-4, 6-42RPablo AndujarWin7-6, 7-5John Isner at the 2012 Canadian Open (Toronto)
Coming up short against Gasquet in 2012, he returned to the semifinal stage nine years later, on his final appearance at the Canadian Open.
RoundOpponentResultScoreSFDaniil Medvedev (1)Loss2-6, 2-6QFGael Monfils (11)Win7-6, 6-43RAndrey Rublev (4)Win7-5, 7-62RCristian Garin (13)Win4-6, 6-3, 6-41RAlejandro Davidovich Fokina Win6-4, 6-1John Isner at the 2021 Canadian Open (Toronto)
Defeating three seeds along the way, Isner eventually lost out to the tournament favorite, Daniil Medvedev, in the semis.
Isner retired with a 15-11 (58%) record at the Canadian Open, reaching two semifinals and one quarterfinal.
It remains to be seen who will complete the semifinal line-up at this year’s event, as Rublev prepares to take on Fritz and Shelton prepares to play De Minaur on Tuesday, August 5.