Canadian Open 2026: Cerundolo vs Medjedovic First-Round Preview
The Canadian Open gets underway in Montreal today, and the hard court Masters event remains one of the most prestigious stops on the ATP calendar outside the Slams. Jannik Sinner lifted the title here last year, and the Italian will be the benchmark every contender measures themselves against this week. For the players deeper in the draw, though, a first-round win can be the catalyst for a deep run and a significant ranking boost. That is exactly what both Juan Manuel Cerundolo and Hamad Medjedovic will be chasing when they open proceedings on Monday.
Juan Manuel Cerundolo: The Argentine Grinder on Hard Courts
Cerundolo sits at ATP ranking 95 with 730 points, which tells you something important about where he is in his career right now. He is firmly a player fighting for relevance in the top 100, not comfortably sitting in it. The Argentine’s game is built around baseline consistency and a heavy forehand that can punish shorter balls. He has historically been more comfortable on clay, where his physicality and grinding style translate naturally, but he is not without weapons on hard courts. His ability to construct points methodically and outlast opponents who want to shorten rallies gives him a ceiling on this surface.
The challenge for Cerundolo is that hard courts tend to reward players who can take time away and finish points more aggressively. His game asks questions, but it rarely poses a lethal threat on faster surfaces the way it does on clay. At 73/50, the market has him as the slight underdog, which actually reflects his ranking position and the general assumption that he needs things to go his way to advance.
Hamad Medjedovic: The Serbian Talent With Hard Court Upside
Medjedovic is one of the more intriguing young players on tour right now. The Serbian has a bigger, more aggressive baseline game that suits hard courts well. He is comfortable dictating play and has the ball-striking quality to hurt opponents before they can settle into a rhythm. On faster hard courts, his ability to compress time and press forward makes him a genuine threat to players ranked around and above him.
At 13/20, the bookmakers have installed him as a moderate favourite, and that pricing feels reasonable given the matchup. He is the younger player trending upward, and his hard court ceiling appears higher than Cerundolo’s at this stage of both their careers. The question, as with most young talents, is consistency across a full match when the pressure rises in a second or third set.
Head-to-Head
This is the first meeting between these two players on the ATP tour. There is no historical record to draw from, no surface-specific data, and no previous result to suggest a psychological edge for either side. When two players meet for the first time, the matchup breaks down entirely to current form, tactical fit, and who handles the occasion better. That makes the surface and playing style analysis even more important here.
Betting Angles
The odds tell a clear story. Medjedovic at 13/20 is the favourite, and Cerundolo at 73/50 represents a slight overlay in the market’s eyes. The question for bettors is whether the underdog price on Cerundolo holds genuine value, or whether the favourite tag on Medjedovic is justified enough to take at the compressed odds.
- Cerundolo at 73/50 is tempting if you believe the hard court gap between these two is overstated. Clay specialists can and do win on hard courts, and his ranking puts him in a similar tier.
- Medjedovic at 13/20 is not a generous price, but favourites at this level on hard courts do tend to hold up. His style suits the surface, and backing a player whose game fits the conditions at under evens is a reasonable approach.
- The first meeting factor cuts both ways. Neither player carries a psychological advantage, but Medjedovic’s more aggressive hard court game may mean he imposes himself before Cerundolo can find a foothold.
Our Pick
Medjedovic’s hard court game profiles better than Cerundolo’s in this specific matchup. The Serbian can take the ball early and push Cerundolo back, limiting the Argentine’s ability to grind out the long baseline exchanges he prefers. At 13/20 the price is not exciting, but the logic is sound. This is a calculated favourite pick, not a value play.
Odds: 13/20
Medjedovic’s aggressive hard court style gives him a structural edge over Cerundolo in a first meeting with no H2H data to complicate things. The Serbian profiles as the better surface fit, and backing the favourite here is grounded in matchup logic rather than blind market following. Cerundolo can grind, but Medjedovic should be able to press him into uncomfortable territory from the baseline from the start.
🎁 LiveScore Bet Offer
Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets
Claim Offer at LiveScore Bet →New customers only. Opt in & bet £10 (odds 2.00+) within 3 days of sign up. Get £20 free sportsbook bet + £10 Bet Builder free bet. 14 days to use. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply. 18+ BeGambleAware.org
Like This? Get More Picks Free
Weekly free bets, odds picks and betting guides — straight to your inbox.