Nick Kyrgios seemed like a withdrawal risk heading into the 2017 Canadian Masters. He had injury problems that forced him out of Atlanta two weeks ago and last week he seemed limited by injuries as well in going out early at ATP Washington. However, the draw was released on Friday for the 2017 Rogers Cup and Kyrgios' name was in it. He has been scheduled to play on Monday, joining Juan Martin del Potro as two of the biggest names scheduled for the opening day of the main draw.
Kyrgios to face Troicki
Kyrgios will face Viktor Troicki of Serbia, a 31-year old veteran on tour whose best tennis may have come and gone.
Troicki is hanging on to top-50 credentials at this point in his career. Heading into Montreal, he is a player that is very much looking for some momentum. If Kyrgios is playing well then he should have little trouble with Troicki on Monday, in a match that opens Court Central at 12:30pm ET.
It will be interesting to see the reaction to Kyrgios in Montreal. He certainly faces a lot of booing around the world for his antics. However, what he did in Montreal two years ago was certainly not comical in any way.
Kyrgios is hardly adored in tennis circles but Montreal is the scene of one of his worst moments on court. "Kokkinakis," Kyrgios said to Stan Wawrinka during a match at Montreal 2015, "(had sex with) your girlfriend.
Sorry to tell you that mate" (bracketed material replaces an expletive).
With the Rogers Cup tournament switching venues between Toronto and Montreal yearly it was in Ontario last year. That makes the 2017 tournament the first that Kyrgios will contest back in Montreal after 2015. You have to think that there might be some boos if his behavior is anything but perfect.
Always a subplot in a tournament, Kyrgios should be under some scrutiny in Canada this week.
del Potro faces John Isner
Juan Martin del Potro is also on the order of play for Monday. He is third up on Court Central in a match that will start not before 6:30pm ET. Del Potro will face John Isner, a player that is having a strong summer with titles in Newport and Atlanta.
While the Argentine has to be considered the greater talent, Isner is the player in better short-term form. The Isner/del Potro contest looks like one of the better matches on Monday from Montreal. Other highlights from the day are as follows:
- Lucas Pouille opens at 12:30pm ET on Banque Nationale court
- David Ferrer and Kyle Edmund follow Pouille's match
- Richard Gasquet and Roberto Bautista-Agut have separate matches that will follow
The top players in the draw have byes through the first round. Tennis fans should be looking for players seeded 1 to 8 to open play on Tuesday or Wednesday.
