Montreal Open: Monfils vs Majchrzak pick and ice-court buzz
At the Montreal Open, Gael Monfils faces Kamil Majchrzak in Round 1 as a +255 underdog, while Alexander Zverev headlines with a half-ice promo hit. Majchrzak is the -320 favorite after a career-best stretch, but Monfils’ Montreal crowd and farewell-season showmanship make the upset pick.
Key Takeaways
- Monfils, 39 and retiring after 2026, meets Majchrzak in Round 1 at IGA Stadium during the Montreal Open.
- Majchrzak is a -320 favorite; FanDuel lists Monfils at +255 after the Pole’s first title and Washington win.
- Zverev, the Montreal Open No. 1 seed, hit balls on a half-ice court at the Canadiens’ Brossard training center.
- The German arrives as a Roland-Garros champion and Wimbledon finalist, still chasing the world No. 1 ranking.
Who is favored when Monfils meets Majchrzak?
According to New York Post betting coverage, the clash at IGA Stadium is Round 1 of the ATP Canadian Masters in Montreal.
Majchrzak, a 30-year-old Pole in the best stretch of his career, is listed as a -320 favorite. Monfils sits at +255 on FanDuel. The Post’s pick is the Monfils moneyline.
Majchrzak recently won his first career title at ’s-Hertogenbosch in June, beating Felix Auger-Aliassime, Alex de Minaur, and Daniil Medvedev along the way. He also defeated Tommy Paul at ATP Washington last week.
Monfils remains a crowd favorite in Montreal and has leaned harder into entertainment in his swan-song season. That unpredictability, the Post argues, is a nightmare matchup for a steadier opponent like Majchrzak.
Why did Montreal Open organizers put Zverev on ice?
With several top players withdrawing, Alexander Zverev became the No. 1 seed and title favorite at the Montreal Open. Organizers staged a promo in which he traded shots on a court split between hard surface and ice—a nod to Canadian hockey culture.
The session took place Saturday at the Montreal Canadiens’ training center in Brossard. Zverev later called the setup “great” and “very well organized,” with video expected to circulate in the following days.
For more odd tournament moments and offbeat sports stories, browse our Bizarre News & Florida Man hub.
What else is fueling Montreal Open buzz this week?
Zverev returns to Canada as favorite for a second straight year, now as a first-time Grand Slam champion after winning Roland-Garros. He outlasted friend Flavio Cobolli in five sets in the final after earlier major-final losses.
He then reached the Wimbledon final against Jannik Sinner before resting a week and training at Rafael Nadal’s academy in Mallorca. He has said world No. 1 is among his goals.
Zverev opens after a first-round bye against Lorenzo Sonego or Tallon Griekspoor. He previously won Montreal in 2017 by beating Roger Federer—context that pairs with Monfils’ emotional first-round test for a noisy Montreal Open week.