Canada Masters Faces Criticism as Top Players Struggle with Conditions
The Canada 1,000 Masters tournament is drawing criticism from players and observers alike, with concerns extending beyond the early exits of top contenders like Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic, and the unusual scheduling of the final on a Thursday. The prevailing sentiment, voiced by leading players, centers on the overall quality of play and challenging tournament conditions.
Several of the sport’s top stars have expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of the Canadian hard-court event. Taylor Fritz (4) and Andrey Rublev (11), both considered favorites in Toronto, have publicly voiced their concerns, setting the stage for a potentially contentious remainder of the tournament.
Fritz, a five-time ATP title winner on hard courts, secured a comfortable 6-4, 6-2 victory over Gabriel Diallo (36), but remained critical of the playing conditions. “I have been here for a week and it was in the training prior to this game when I started knowing where the ball would go after hitting it,” he stated. “The conditions are very difficult, we are seeing ugly tennis. Many mistakes and double faults are being made.”
According to Fritz, the issues stem from a combination of factors. He pinpointed the Wilson US Open balls as particularly problematic, describing them as “the most difficult to control the whole season.” He elaborated, “They are very soft. They go very fast towards the track and then stop behind the boat.” Adding to the challenge, Fritz believes the court surface itself is excessively fast, compounding the difficulty of controlling shots.
Rublev echoed these sentiments in an interview with Tennis Channel, arguing against an increase in hard-court tournaments throughout the year. “No. Many of the courts we played during the season are super fast,” he asserted. He then offered a broader perspective on the appeal of different court surfaces, stating, “As a spectator, I like to see tennis on slow tracks. In them, the sport looks clearer. Even in Wimbledon, which is supposed to be ‘fast’ grass, you can see more long rallies, look at how players defend and think where to put the ball.”
Rublev illustrated his point by referencing the match between Daniil and Alexei Popyrin, which resulted in a three-set victory for the Australian player (5-7, 6-4, 6-4). “The tennis that could be seen in that match was a tree tree,” he observed. “Most points arrived through mistakes or failed returns. You saw less variety than the one in other tournaments.”
Interestingly, Fritz and Rublev could potentially meet in the quarterfinals, contingent on winning their respective matches against Sunday Be there legs (27) and Alejandro Davidovich (19). Davidovich himself has recently criticized the tournament organization for uneven rest schedules.
Regardless of the eventual outcome, the 2025 Canada 1,000 Masters appears destined to be remembered as one of the less compelling events of the season, unless a significant shift in conditions or performance occurs.
