Lorenzo Musetti is dedicating significant effort to improving his forehand as he prepares for the US Open, emphasizing adjustments required for hard court play. The Italian commenced his Canadian Masters campaign with a 7-5, 6-1 win over James Duckworth, despite a challenging recent run, having lost three of his last four matches.

Musetti, who reached his first Grand Slam semi-final at the 2024 French Open and climbed to a career-high world No. 6 before slipping back to No. 10 after a first-round Wimbledon exit, recognizes the demands hard courts place on his game. “The biggest adjustments for me on hard court is try to adapt the speed of the court,” he explained to the Tennis Channel, adding that hard courts require more impulsive play, contrasting with the slower pace on clay where he has more time to strategize.

He highlighted the necessity of changing his game style and personality to meet these conditions, with a focus on the serve and return as key components for success. Musetti is currently the only player with a one-handed backhand among the world’s top 15, a style that presents distinct challenges on faster surfaces. “Especially on the return side, there’s many disadvantages, I would say, if you play one‑handed backhand,” he noted in an ATP Tour interview.

The past year has been transformative for Musetti, featuring two Grand Slam semi-finals, an Olympic bronze medal, a Masters 1000 final appearance in Monte Carlo, and breaking into the top 10 rankings. Looking ahead, he cites the Turin event as his foremost goal but prefers to avoid excessive pressure. “There’s many points to catch,” he said, referring to the North American hard court swing, which includes two Masters 1000 events and the US Open, where he aims to maintain consistency and accumulate points.

Currently ranked sixth in the live ATP standings, Musetti is poised to potentially qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals if he sustains his form.

The Canadian Open, currently hosting Masters and WTA 1000 events in 2025, stands as the second-oldest active tournament in tennis, boasting a legacy that dates back to 1881. The tournament originated at the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club with Isidore F. Hellmuth as its inaugural champion. Since 1981, the men’s and women’s events alternate annually between Montreal and Toronto.

Older tournaments include the Hamburg European Open, recognized as the fifth-oldest event since its inception in 1892. Initially held at Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, it moved to Am Rothenbaum in 1924. It transitioned from the Grand Prix circuit to an ATP 500 event, with a women’s event intermittently held and officially reinstated on the WTA Tour in 1925.

The French Open, the oldest clay-court tournament and the fourth-oldest overall, began in 1891. Early editions rotated between four venues before settling at Stade Roland Garros in 1928. It became a Grand Slam event in 1925, with the centre court later renamed for Philippe Chatrier in 2001.

The US Open, the third-oldest active tournament and second-oldest Grand Slam, started in 1881 at Newport. The event underwent multiple relocations, surface changes from grass to clay, and then to hard courts by 1978, with the Arthur Ashe Stadium now the largest tennis stadium worldwide.

Finally, Wimbledon, the most iconic and oldest tournament in tennis, predates all others on the calendar. Its rich history underpins its status as the sport’s flagship event.

The Canadian Open stands as one of tennis’s oldest and most esteemed tournaments, hosting a storied history of champions. Among male players in the Open Era, seven individuals have distinguished themselves with the greatest number of match wins at this event.

At the pinnacle is Ivan Lendl, who not only boasts the highest number of victories—57 wins—but also holds the tournament’s highest win percentage. Lendl claimed the Canadian Open title six times, with back-to-back wins in 1980 and 1981, then again in 1983, followed by a remarkable three consecutive titles from 1987 to 1989. He also reached finals in 1982, 1985, and 1992 across 15 tournament appearances.

Second on the list is John McEnroe, who competed at the Canadian Open for 16 straight years from 1977 to 1992. McEnroe won the title twice in 1984 and 1985 and made finals in 1979 and 1989, along with two additional semi-final appearances, accumulating 44 match victories in total.

Rafael Nadal, renowned for his success on multiple surfaces, ranks just ahead with 38 match wins. He secured five men’s singles titles in Canada—in 2005, 2008, 2013, and back-to-back in 2018 and 2019. Nadal also made two semi-final appearances and has a 38-8 record at the event.

Equaling Nadal’s victory count is Andre Agassi, a three-time champion in 1992, 1994, and 1995, who also reached three additional semi-finals. Agassi ended the tournament with a 38-11 record and was runner-up to Nadal in the 2005 final.

Novak Djokovic follows closely with 37 match wins. He conquered the Canadian Open title four times—2007, 2011, 2012, and 2016—and was runner-up in 2015. Notably, Djokovic has reached at least the quarter-finals in nine out of 11 appearances.

Roger Federer, with a 35-10 record, won the title twice during his peak years in 2004 and 2006 and made four additional finals in 2007, 2010, 2014, and 2017.

Andy Murray rounds out this group with 28 wins, including three titles in 2009, 2010, and 2015, and semi-final appearances in 2006 and 2008. The Canadian Open ranks among the most successful stops in his career.

These seven players represent the elite performers historically at the Canadian Open, each leaving a lasting imprint through multiple victories and consistent high-level play.