Alexander Zverev is back at the Montreal Open with a different kind of spotlight on him. The 29-year-old arrives in Montréal as the returning favorite for the second straight year, but this time the conversation is shaped by a breakthrough that had eluded him for a long time: his first Grand Slam title at Roland-Garros.
That title changed the tone around Zverev immediately. After losing three major finals before finally getting over the line in Paris, he said it was a major relief to win the trophy and described the feeling as a great satisfaction. He also said the last two months have been fantastic, which is a useful reminder that this is not just a player trying to defend points in Canada, but one trying to build on a major career turning point.
A familiar stop in Montréal
Zverev’s connection to the Montreal Open goes back to 2017, when he won the title by beating Roger Federer. That history gives this year’s return a little extra weight, especially with Zverev now saying one of his goals is to reach the top of the world rankings.
He also made an unusual stop before the tournament. On Saturday, Zverev visited the Canadiens de Montréal training center in Brossard and hit balls on a half-ice improvised court. On Sunday, he told journalists the experience was “génial,” while also calling it “Très bien organisé.”
It was a small but memorable detour during a busy reset. Zverev said he trained at Rafael Nadal's academy in Majorque after a one-week vacation, which suggests he is using the lead-up to Montréal as a serious preparation block rather than a simple appearance between events.
Why the tournament matters now
The timing is important because Zverev is trying to turn a major title into a bigger run toward the top of the rankings. Winning in Montréal would not just fit the storyline; it would also strengthen the idea that his Roland-Garros title was the start of another step forward, not an isolated peak.
He has already shown he can handle this event. He won in Montréal in 2017, and the setting has clearly suited him before. This year, he also has a first-round bye and is set to face Lorenzo Sonego or Tallon Griekspoor in his opening match. If that opening goes the way he wants, the rest of the draw could quickly become the next test in a summer that has already featured major results.
There is also a broader tour context around him. Zverev lost to Jannik Sinner in four sets at Wimbledon after reaching another final, and he said that match was a superb contest that could have lasted even longer. He added that it could have gone to a fifth set, which fits the sense that he is still pushing at the top end of the sport even when he does not come away with the title.
For now, though, Montréal is the next step. The Montreal Open has already been a winning place for Zverev once, and after finally collecting his first Grand Slam title, he returns with a clearer sense of momentum and a bigger goal in view.
