One of the most anticipated matches of ATP Montreal takes place at 7:00 p.m. ET on Thursday. It sees a battle of two young stars, as World No. 15 Rafael Jodar takes on World No. 13 Lorenzo Musetti.
Here is my full preview of the Round of 32 match between Rafael Jodar and Lorenzo Musetti at the 2026 Canadian Open.
Rafael Jodar vs. Lorenzo Musetti Preview, Prediction
Rafael Jodar Preview
It has been a fairy tale year for Rafael Jodar. In 2025, he was still a college tennis player at the University of Virginia. Jodar then decided to turn professional in 2026 at just 19-years-old. He won his first-career ATP title in April after just a few tournaments as a pro. He made his first-career major quarter-final at Roland-Garros in what was his second-career major start. Then, just a few days ago, he made his first-career ATP 500 final against Taylor Fritz in Washington, DC.
Rafael Jodar is an exceptional clay player, but he has now proven that he can get it done on hardcourt, as well. Jodar has a chance to be one of the great players in the sport over the next decade. However, being able to translate to different surfaces is key to being considered in that upper echelon of players. His play here in Montreal, as well as in Cincinnati and, most importantly, New York will tell us a lot about the young star.
Lorenzo Musetti Preview
Lorenzo Musetti is another bright young star on the ATP Tour. At 24-years-old, he might as well be in the twilight of his career compared to Jodar. However, compared to most, he still has a lot of time to improve and get to that next level. He is already a top-15 player in the world, but has yet to get it done at the biggest events. However, what Musetti does exemplify is that key ability to translate to different surfaces. He has made it to at least the quarter-finals at all four major venues already in his young career.
Musetti has struggled with injuries in 2026, causing him to miss Roland-Garros and Wimbledon. However, he made his return to the court at the Citi Open to ramp up his game in time for the US Open. He played well there, making it to the quarter-finals before losing to, fittingly, Rafael Jodar.
Rafael Jodar vs. Lorenzo Musetti Picks, Best Bets
My best bet for this match is for Rafael Jodar to get the win. These two faced off just six days ago in Washington, DC. After Musetti won the first set, Jodar took full control of the match, winning the next two sets 6-1, 6-4. That was the first-ever meeting between the two young stars, and Jodar got the better of Musetti. This will certainly be a matchup that we see for years to come, but for now, Jodar has the edge.
Lorenzo Musetti is still trying to find his game and get back to peak form after returning from injury. Meanwhile, Rafael Jodar has just been riding the high of his quick success all season. Jodar played brilliantly in Washington, beating Jodar and Arthur Fils before eventually losing to Taylor Fritz in the final. Jodar should ride that momentum to a win over Musetti in this Canadian Open Round of 32 match.
