ATP Toronto Day 1 Predictions Including Juncheng Shang vs James Duckworth

First round action in Toronto will determine which players have a chance to make a run at a Masters 1000 tournament by building early round momentum. Here is your look at all the matches. We have predictions for every match on day 1 of the National Bank Open, ATP Toronto.

Pierre-Hugues Herbert vs Tomás Martín Etcheverry

Herbert plays a limited singles schedule, he’s 4-7 at tour level this year and 12-7 on the Challenger Tour. His serve and volley game is crafty but he’s failed for years to reach the heights he did from 2018-2019. A Challenger title, and a final, are on his resume this year. Eight years younger, Etcheverry is a player who prefers clay. He’s struggling this year with a 13-22 record that is his worst since 2022. The surface favors Herbert’s game, and Etcheverry gives me little confidence right now. Prediction: Herbert in 3

Emilio Nava vs Zizou Bergs

Nava won three Challenger titles this year, reached the quarters in Los Cabos, and has been showing improvement all season (he has four Challenger finals overall). Bergs sits near the top of his career best ranking, 20-17 on the year, with two finals on faster surfaces, he’s a dangerous player to face. This is a highly compelling first round match, and it feels unfair to have this draw. On the surface, Bergs should have an edge. Prediction: Bergs in 2

Facundo Bagnis vs Vasek Pospisil

At 35, Pospisil is a veteran of Canadian tennis at this point, he hasn’t been a factor on the ATP Tour since 2021, and this is his swan song. He’s retiring from tennis at ATP Toronto, having achieved the most fame in doubles where he won Wimbledon. He got the perfect draw, Bagnis, also 35, is a shell of the player he was and nearing retirement as well. However, he’s qualified for two tournaments in a row, and despite preferring clay, he’s playing well enough to end Pospisil’s last run quickly. Prediction: Bagnis in 3

Juncheng Shang vs James Duckworth

Duckworth, a 33 year old qualifier, comes off the quarters in Los Cabos. He’s a fringe Challenger Tour player most weeks, 4-10 on the main circuit, and 10-5 on the Challenger Tour with two finals (1 title). Shang is returning to tour after six months out with a painful foot injury. Shang is a talented player but it’s impossible to know the level of his game right now after he went 28-23 in 2024 with his maiden ATP title. Under normal circumstances, Shang is favored, but Duckworth is a reliable enough player to take advantage of an opponent just finding his range on tour. Prediction: Duckworth in 3

Main Photo Credit: Taya Gray/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK

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