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Cleveland Browns Rebuilt Offense, Should Be Much Better in 2026 | Deadspin.com Last year was quite a disaster for the Cleveland Browns. The defense led by Myles Garrett looked great for most of the season, but was let down by the worst offense in the sport at almost every turn. That being said, the plan moving forward is pretty simple: improve the offense at all costs.It hasn’t been the flashiest upgrades for the Browns, but you can absolutely say that entering the start of 2026, the Cleveland Browns are a better football team than the year prior.The Browns’ biggest concern starts and ends with the offensive line. Cleveland had a historically bad offensive line last year and should be vastly improved this season. I doubt they have an elite unit up front, but whoever is taking snaps behind that offensive line should be in a much better position than the rotating cast calling plays last year.Spencer Fano is the “flashiest” addition to this offensive line. Fano is projected to be the Browns starting left tackle this year, but I’m not sure if that will be his forever position. He has a smaller frame and shorter arms for a left tackle, but his tape was great at Utah last year. No matter the case, he will be an immediate improvement for the Browns.Cleveland continued with their o-line overhaul by signing veterans Elgton Jenkins and Zion Johnson. These two were slightly overpaid, but the Browns needed so much help that it doesn’t really matter how they got it done. The last big addition on the line was trading a 5th-rounder to the Texans for Tytus Howard. Houston felt like they wouldn’t be able to afford Howard, so it was a no-doubt move for the Browns.It’s not the first time these two teams have traded; the more well-known move was Houston’s trade of Deshaun Watson to the Browns. That move has been a well-documented disaster, but with the added offensive line help and two solid receiver picks early in the draft in KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston, Cleveland will be more potent on offense, with Watson or Shedeur Sanders playing quarterback.Finally, the defense didn’t need a ton of help, but after losing Devin Bush to the Bears, immediately solving that issue by adding Quincy Williams was a great move.Do I think the Browns will contend in the AFC North, or a Wild Card spot? No, not really, but this team will be far more watchable than last season. Also, if these moves end up working, you might be able to go all in on a quarterback you like in the draft. Things could be looking up in Cleveland. #Cleveland #Browns #Rebuilt #Offense #Deadspin.com

Cleveland Browns Rebuilt Offense, Should Be Much Better in 2026 | Deadspin.com

Last year was quite a disaster for the Cleveland Browns. The defense led by Myles Garrett looked great for most of the season, but was let down by the worst offense in the sport at almost every turn. That being said, the plan moving forward is pretty simple: improve the offense at all costs.

It hasn’t been the flashiest upgrades for the Browns, but you can absolutely say that entering the start of 2026, the Cleveland Browns are a better football team than the year prior.

The Browns’ biggest concern starts and ends with the offensive line. Cleveland had a historically bad offensive line last year and should be vastly improved this season. I doubt they have an elite unit up front, but whoever is taking snaps behind that offensive line should be in a much better position than the rotating cast calling plays last year.

Spencer Fano is the “flashiest” addition to this offensive line. Fano is projected to be the Browns starting left tackle this year, but I’m not sure if that will be his forever position. He has a smaller frame and shorter arms for a left tackle, but his tape was great at Utah last year. No matter the case, he will be an immediate improvement for the Browns.

Cleveland continued with their o-line overhaul by signing veterans Elgton Jenkins and Zion Johnson. These two were slightly overpaid, but the Browns needed so much help that it doesn’t really matter how they got it done. The last big addition on the line was trading a 5th-rounder to the Texans for Tytus Howard. Houston felt like they wouldn’t be able to afford Howard, so it was a no-doubt move for the Browns.

It’s not the first time these two teams have traded; the more well-known move was Houston’s trade of Deshaun Watson to the Browns. That move has been a well-documented disaster, but with the added offensive line help and two solid receiver picks early in the draft in KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston, Cleveland will be more potent on offense, with Watson or Shedeur Sanders playing quarterback.

Finally, the defense didn’t need a ton of help, but after losing Devin Bush to the Bears, immediately solving that issue by adding Quincy Williams was a great move.

Do I think the Browns will contend in the AFC North, or a Wild Card spot? No, not really, but this team will be far more watchable than last season. Also, if these moves end up working, you might be able to go all in on a quarterback you like in the draft. Things could be looking up in Cleveland.

#Cleveland #Browns #Rebuilt #Offense #Deadspin.com

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Last year was quite a disaster for the Cleveland Browns. The defense led by Myles Garrett looked great for most of the season, but was let down by the worst offense in the sport at almost every turn. That being said, the plan moving forward is pretty simple: improve the offense at all costs.

It hasn’t been the flashiest upgrades for the Browns, but you can absolutely say that entering the start of 2026, the Cleveland Browns are a better football team than the year prior.

The Browns’ biggest concern starts and ends with the offensive line. Cleveland had a historically bad offensive line last year and should be vastly improved this season. I doubt they have an elite unit up front, but whoever is taking snaps behind that offensive line should be in a much better position than the rotating cast calling plays last year.

Spencer Fano is the “flashiest” addition to this offensive line. Fano is projected to be the Browns starting left tackle this year, but I’m not sure if that will be his forever position. He has a smaller frame and shorter arms for a left tackle, but his tape was great at Utah last year. No matter the case, he will be an immediate improvement for the Browns.

Cleveland continued with their o-line overhaul by signing veterans Elgton Jenkins and Zion Johnson. These two were slightly overpaid, but the Browns needed so much help that it doesn’t really matter how they got it done. The last big addition on the line was trading a 5th-rounder to the Texans for Tytus Howard. Houston felt like they wouldn’t be able to afford Howard, so it was a no-doubt move for the Browns.

It’s not the first time these two teams have traded; the more well-known move was Houston’s trade of Deshaun Watson to the Browns. That move has been a well-documented disaster, but with the added offensive line help and two solid receiver picks early in the draft in KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston, Cleveland will be more potent on offense, with Watson or Shedeur Sanders playing quarterback.

Finally, the defense didn’t need a ton of help, but after losing Devin Bush to the Bears, immediately solving that issue by adding Quincy Williams was a great move.

Do I think the Browns will contend in the AFC North, or a Wild Card spot? No, not really, but this team will be far more watchable than last season. Also, if these moves end up working, you might be able to go all in on a quarterback you like in the draft. Things could be looking up in Cleveland.

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#Cleveland #Browns #Rebuilt #Offense #Deadspin.com

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Pakistan’s Olympic gold medallist javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem has come in for criticism after his disappointing performance at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Nadeem finished ninth with a sub-80 effort, with Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage winning gold and India’s Neeraj Chopra and Yash Vir Singh finishing second and third, respectively.

The outcome was not unexpected, keeping in mind Arshad took part in only one preparatory event in Switzerland in 2026 for the CWG and that he spent all his time training in the hot weather in Lahore without working with any foreign coaches or trainers in person.

Arshad, who has previously trained under South African coach Terseus Liebengberg, trained with his local trainers and coach Salman Butt.

Meanwhile, Arshad’s archrival Neeraj had his final preparation and rehabilitation camp at his training camp in Biene in Switzerland, and the other Indians, Rohit Yadav and Yash Vir, trained in Spala, Poland, with foreign coaches and trainers.

READ: CWG 2026: All-Asian javelin podium as Pathirage pips Neeraj to win gold, Yash Vir clinches bronze

Arshad, defending champion at the Commonwealth Games after winning the gold in Birmingham 2022 with a best of 90.12 metres, was unable to even cross the 80-metre mark in the finals in Glasgow.

He failed to qualify for the final round of eight due to his poor performance, dashing Pakistan’s hopes of another medal in the Games.

For his fans it was a big letdown, especially having had won the Olympic gold medal with a record throw of 92.97.

Butt admitted that Arshad was nowhere near his best in the CWG and was underprepared.

While Arshad is also to be partially blamed for his fall, as he clearly didn’t look 100 per cent fit in the finals, he has also had to battle many issues off the track; the biggest one being the Pakistan Amateur Athletics Federation (PAAF) totally disowning him after a feud over the retention of Butt as coach last year.

ALSO READ: CWG 2026: Neeraj Chopra wins silver in javelin throw with season-best effort

A reliable source close to Arshad said that since late last year, the PAAF and even the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) have not made life easy for the javelin thrower.

The PAAF, the source said, totally distanced itself from Arshad’s preparations and left him on his own, and when he made a few requests pertaining to his training, they were not entertained.

Similarly, the PSB also didn’t release any funds for foreign coaches to help Arshad train even in Lahore.

“This is an athlete who is self-made and comes from a village and belonged to a low-income family. But he brought so much glory to Pakistan with his gold medals. And yet he couldn’t prepare properly for the CWG. It is a sad reflection on our sports structure,” former Olympic boxing bronze medallist Hussain Shah said.

Even Pakistan’s first female to win a medal in the Commonwealth Games, boxer Fatima Zehra, has rued that if she had got better training and exposure, she could have won the gold in her weight category.

Fatima still managed to bag a bronze in the boxing event, which is Pakistan’s only medal in the CWG thus far after sending a 36-member contingent.

Published on Aug 02, 2026

#Arshad #Nadeem #cops #criticism #poor #show #Glasgow">Arshad Nadeem cops criticism for poor show in Glasgow Pakistan’s Olympic gold medallist javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem has come in for criticism after his disappointing performance at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.Nadeem finished ninth with a sub-80 effort, with Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage winning gold and India’s Neeraj Chopra and Yash Vir Singh finishing second and third, respectively.The outcome was not unexpected, keeping in mind Arshad took part in only one preparatory event in Switzerland in 2026 for the CWG and that he spent all his time training in the hot weather in Lahore without working with any foreign coaches or trainers in person.Arshad, who has previously trained under South African coach Terseus Liebengberg, trained with his local trainers and coach Salman Butt.Meanwhile, Arshad’s archrival Neeraj had his final preparation and rehabilitation camp at his training camp in Biene in Switzerland, and the other Indians, Rohit Yadav and Yash Vir, trained in Spala, Poland, with foreign coaches and trainers.READ: CWG 2026: All-Asian javelin podium as Pathirage pips Neeraj to win gold, Yash Vir clinches bronzeArshad, defending champion at the Commonwealth Games after winning the gold in Birmingham 2022 with a best of 90.12 metres, was unable to even cross the 80-metre mark in the finals in Glasgow.He failed to qualify for the final round of eight due to his poor performance, dashing Pakistan’s hopes of another medal in the Games.For his fans it was a big letdown, especially having had won the Olympic gold medal with a record throw of 92.97.Butt admitted that Arshad was nowhere near his best in the CWG and was underprepared.While Arshad is also to be partially blamed for his fall, as he clearly didn’t look 100 per cent fit in the finals, he has also had to battle many issues off the track; the biggest one being the Pakistan Amateur Athletics Federation (PAAF) totally disowning him after a feud over the retention of Butt as coach last year.ALSO READ: CWG 2026: Neeraj Chopra wins silver in javelin throw with season-best effortA reliable source close to Arshad said that since late last year, the PAAF and even the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) have not made life easy for the javelin thrower.The PAAF, the source said, totally distanced itself from Arshad’s preparations and left him on his own, and when he made a few requests pertaining to his training, they were not entertained.Similarly, the PSB also didn’t release any funds for foreign coaches to help Arshad train even in Lahore.“This is an athlete who is self-made and comes from a village and belonged to a low-income family. But he brought so much glory to Pakistan with his gold medals. And yet he couldn’t prepare properly for the CWG. It is a sad reflection on our sports structure,” former Olympic boxing bronze medallist Hussain Shah said.Even Pakistan’s first female to win a medal in the Commonwealth Games, boxer Fatima Zehra, has rued that if she had got better training and exposure, she could have won the gold in her weight category.Fatima still managed to bag a bronze in the boxing event, which is Pakistan’s only medal in the CWG thus far after sending a 36-member contingent.Published on Aug 02, 2026 #Arshad #Nadeem #cops #criticism #poor #show #Glasgow

CWG 2026: All-Asian javelin podium as Pathirage pips Neeraj to win gold, Yash Vir clinches bronze

Arshad, defending champion at the Commonwealth Games after winning the gold in Birmingham 2022 with a best of 90.12 metres, was unable to even cross the 80-metre mark in the finals in Glasgow.

He failed to qualify for the final round of eight due to his poor performance, dashing Pakistan’s hopes of another medal in the Games.

For his fans it was a big letdown, especially having had won the Olympic gold medal with a record throw of 92.97.

Butt admitted that Arshad was nowhere near his best in the CWG and was underprepared.

While Arshad is also to be partially blamed for his fall, as he clearly didn’t look 100 per cent fit in the finals, he has also had to battle many issues off the track; the biggest one being the Pakistan Amateur Athletics Federation (PAAF) totally disowning him after a feud over the retention of Butt as coach last year.

ALSO READ: CWG 2026: Neeraj Chopra wins silver in javelin throw with season-best effort

A reliable source close to Arshad said that since late last year, the PAAF and even the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) have not made life easy for the javelin thrower.

The PAAF, the source said, totally distanced itself from Arshad’s preparations and left him on his own, and when he made a few requests pertaining to his training, they were not entertained.

Similarly, the PSB also didn’t release any funds for foreign coaches to help Arshad train even in Lahore.

“This is an athlete who is self-made and comes from a village and belonged to a low-income family. But he brought so much glory to Pakistan with his gold medals. And yet he couldn’t prepare properly for the CWG. It is a sad reflection on our sports structure,” former Olympic boxing bronze medallist Hussain Shah said.

Even Pakistan’s first female to win a medal in the Commonwealth Games, boxer Fatima Zehra, has rued that if she had got better training and exposure, she could have won the gold in her weight category.

Fatima still managed to bag a bronze in the boxing event, which is Pakistan’s only medal in the CWG thus far after sending a 36-member contingent.

Published on Aug 02, 2026

#Arshad #Nadeem #cops #criticism #poor #show #Glasgow">Arshad Nadeem cops criticism for poor show in Glasgow

Pakistan’s Olympic gold medallist javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem has come in for criticism after his disappointing performance at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Nadeem finished ninth with a sub-80 effort, with Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage winning gold and India’s Neeraj Chopra and Yash Vir Singh finishing second and third, respectively.

The outcome was not unexpected, keeping in mind Arshad took part in only one preparatory event in Switzerland in 2026 for the CWG and that he spent all his time training in the hot weather in Lahore without working with any foreign coaches or trainers in person.

Arshad, who has previously trained under South African coach Terseus Liebengberg, trained with his local trainers and coach Salman Butt.

Meanwhile, Arshad’s archrival Neeraj had his final preparation and rehabilitation camp at his training camp in Biene in Switzerland, and the other Indians, Rohit Yadav and Yash Vir, trained in Spala, Poland, with foreign coaches and trainers.

READ: CWG 2026: All-Asian javelin podium as Pathirage pips Neeraj to win gold, Yash Vir clinches bronze

Arshad, defending champion at the Commonwealth Games after winning the gold in Birmingham 2022 with a best of 90.12 metres, was unable to even cross the 80-metre mark in the finals in Glasgow.

He failed to qualify for the final round of eight due to his poor performance, dashing Pakistan’s hopes of another medal in the Games.

For his fans it was a big letdown, especially having had won the Olympic gold medal with a record throw of 92.97.

Butt admitted that Arshad was nowhere near his best in the CWG and was underprepared.

While Arshad is also to be partially blamed for his fall, as he clearly didn’t look 100 per cent fit in the finals, he has also had to battle many issues off the track; the biggest one being the Pakistan Amateur Athletics Federation (PAAF) totally disowning him after a feud over the retention of Butt as coach last year.

ALSO READ: CWG 2026: Neeraj Chopra wins silver in javelin throw with season-best effort

A reliable source close to Arshad said that since late last year, the PAAF and even the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) have not made life easy for the javelin thrower.

The PAAF, the source said, totally distanced itself from Arshad’s preparations and left him on his own, and when he made a few requests pertaining to his training, they were not entertained.

Similarly, the PSB also didn’t release any funds for foreign coaches to help Arshad train even in Lahore.

“This is an athlete who is self-made and comes from a village and belonged to a low-income family. But he brought so much glory to Pakistan with his gold medals. And yet he couldn’t prepare properly for the CWG. It is a sad reflection on our sports structure,” former Olympic boxing bronze medallist Hussain Shah said.

Even Pakistan’s first female to win a medal in the Commonwealth Games, boxer Fatima Zehra, has rued that if she had got better training and exposure, she could have won the gold in her weight category.

Fatima still managed to bag a bronze in the boxing event, which is Pakistan’s only medal in the CWG thus far after sending a 36-member contingent.

Published on Aug 02, 2026

#Arshad #Nadeem #cops #criticism #poor #show #Glasgow
Deadspin | Timbers hand Sounders club-record sixth straight loss Aug 1, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Timbers midfielder David Da Costa (10) controls the ball during the first half against Seattle Sounders FC defender Kalani Kossa-Rienzi (85) at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images Brandon Bye scored in the 82nd minute as the Portland Timbers rallied for a 2-1 victory against the visiting Seattle Sounders in a Cascadia Cup clash Saturday night. Kevin Kelsy scored his team-leading ninth goal of the season for the Timbers (7-8-3, 24 points), who improved to 3-0-1 under interim coach Jack Cassidy. Goalkeeper James Pantemis made two saves. Kalani Kossa-Rienzi scored for Seattle (7-7-3, 24 points), which suffered its franchise-record sixth straight defeat. Goalkeeper Andrew Thomas was credited with three saves. The go-ahead goal came after Portland’s Cole Bassett passed to David Da Costa at the top left corner of the 18-yard box. Da Costa spun and sent a pass across the top of the penalty area to Bye, whose right-footed shot from 20 yards eluded a pair of defenders and a diving Thomas on its way into the lower left corner of the net. The Sounders opened the scoring in the 27th minute. Paul Rothrock’s cross from the left wing for Osaze De Rosario was headed away from the top of the 6-yard box by Timbers defender Kamal Miller. The ball fell to Kossa-Rienzi and his left-footed shot from 18 yards out found the lower right corner of the net. The Timbers tied it in the 41st minute after working the ball down the left wing. Kristoffer Velde’s cross from the edge of the penalty area was slightly deflected by Sounders defender Stuart Hawkins before glancing off Kelsy’s left thigh and into the net from close range. A video review determined Kelsy was just onside on the play. Rusnak had a chance in the dying seconds of the half, but his shot from the top right of the 6-yard box sliced into the side netting. Seattle’s Paul Arriola, getting the start at right back, had to come off in the seventh minute because of an apparent lower right leg injury and was replaced by Kossa-Rienzi. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Timbers #hand #Sounders #clubrecord #sixth #straight #lossAug 1, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Timbers midfielder David Da Costa (10) controls the ball during the first half against Seattle Sounders FC defender Kalani Kossa-Rienzi (85) at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Brandon Bye scored in the 82nd minute as the Portland Timbers rallied for a 2-1 victory against the visiting Seattle Sounders in a Cascadia Cup clash Saturday night.

Kevin Kelsy scored his team-leading ninth goal of the season for the Timbers (7-8-3, 24 points), who improved to 3-0-1 under interim coach Jack Cassidy. Goalkeeper James Pantemis made two saves.

Kalani Kossa-Rienzi scored for Seattle (7-7-3, 24 points), which suffered its franchise-record sixth straight defeat. Goalkeeper Andrew Thomas was credited with three saves.

The go-ahead goal came after Portland’s Cole Bassett passed to David Da Costa at the top left corner of the 18-yard box. Da Costa spun and sent a pass across the top of the penalty area to Bye, whose right-footed shot from 20 yards eluded a pair of defenders and a diving Thomas on its way into the lower left corner of the net.


The Sounders opened the scoring in the 27th minute. Paul Rothrock’s cross from the left wing for Osaze De Rosario was headed away from the top of the 6-yard box by Timbers defender Kamal Miller. The ball fell to Kossa-Rienzi and his left-footed shot from 18 yards out found the lower right corner of the net.

The Timbers tied it in the 41st minute after working the ball down the left wing. Kristoffer Velde’s cross from the edge of the penalty area was slightly deflected by Sounders defender Stuart Hawkins before glancing off Kelsy’s left thigh and into the net from close range. A video review determined Kelsy was just onside on the play.

Rusnak had a chance in the dying seconds of the half, but his shot from the top right of the 6-yard box sliced into the side netting.

Seattle’s Paul Arriola, getting the start at right back, had to come off in the seventh minute because of an apparent lower right leg injury and was replaced by Kossa-Rienzi.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Timbers #hand #Sounders #clubrecord #sixth #straight #loss">Deadspin | Timbers hand Sounders club-record sixth straight loss Aug 1, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Timbers midfielder David Da Costa (10) controls the ball during the first half against Seattle Sounders FC defender Kalani Kossa-Rienzi (85) at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images Brandon Bye scored in the 82nd minute as the Portland Timbers rallied for a 2-1 victory against the visiting Seattle Sounders in a Cascadia Cup clash Saturday night. Kevin Kelsy scored his team-leading ninth goal of the season for the Timbers (7-8-3, 24 points), who improved to 3-0-1 under interim coach Jack Cassidy. Goalkeeper James Pantemis made two saves. Kalani Kossa-Rienzi scored for Seattle (7-7-3, 24 points), which suffered its franchise-record sixth straight defeat. Goalkeeper Andrew Thomas was credited with three saves. The go-ahead goal came after Portland’s Cole Bassett passed to David Da Costa at the top left corner of the 18-yard box. Da Costa spun and sent a pass across the top of the penalty area to Bye, whose right-footed shot from 20 yards eluded a pair of defenders and a diving Thomas on its way into the lower left corner of the net. The Sounders opened the scoring in the 27th minute. Paul Rothrock’s cross from the left wing for Osaze De Rosario was headed away from the top of the 6-yard box by Timbers defender Kamal Miller. The ball fell to Kossa-Rienzi and his left-footed shot from 18 yards out found the lower right corner of the net. The Timbers tied it in the 41st minute after working the ball down the left wing. Kristoffer Velde’s cross from the edge of the penalty area was slightly deflected by Sounders defender Stuart Hawkins before glancing off Kelsy’s left thigh and into the net from close range. A video review determined Kelsy was just onside on the play. Rusnak had a chance in the dying seconds of the half, but his shot from the top right of the 6-yard box sliced into the side netting. Seattle’s Paul Arriola, getting the start at right back, had to come off in the seventh minute because of an apparent lower right leg injury and was replaced by Kossa-Rienzi. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Timbers #hand #Sounders #clubrecord #sixth #straight #loss

World number four Felix Auger-Aliassime will be playing for local pride when the ATP Montreal Masters begins on Sunday in his hometown.

The Canadian returns as second seed to a tournament he attended frequently as a budding young player, when he used to watch and study his sporting idols up close in training between matches.

“There were several times when I didn’t have a ticket, so I would watch all the training sessions,” he said on Saturday at the event, where he is seeded behind Roland Garros winner and Wimbledon runner-up Alexander Zverev.

“I learned even more things during training since they (fans) have the chance to be very, very close to the players.”

Auger-Aliassime recently split with his longtime coach of 10 years, Frederic Fontang, after losing a frustrating Wimbledon five-set quarterfinal to Novak Djokovic.

He will have the bulk of the crowd support at an event which is missing major stars including top-ranked Jannik Sinner, who opted not to play in the wake of his Wimbledon triumph to send tournament organisers into crisis mode.

Joining the Italian on the sidelines with less than a month to go before the US Open begins are the 39-year-old Djokovic and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, still testing and healing the right wrist injury which has kept him off court since mid-April.

Auger-Aliassime’s best performance at the Canadian event was a quarterfinal four years ago. Last year he lost in the second round.

Despite the hometown support, Auger-Aliassime said he will aim to stick to his usual routines and focus solely on his game.

“Already, my expectations or hopes are at the same level as the public’s. So already, there is no gap at that level,” he said.

“I have my work to do, I have my preparation, I have my routines, so all that doesn’t change.

“I try to change as few things as possible, even if I’m playing in Montreal. Yes, I’m a bit more in-demand obviously than at other tournaments, but I try to keep my routines.

“The brain is used to having its routines. And that helps to program oneself well or to prepare well for the tournament.”

All 28 seeds in the 128-strong field receive first-round byes, with Auger-Aliassime set for the second round against the winner from France’s Luca van Assche and a qualifier.

Top seed Zverev reached the Canadian semifinal in Toronto a year ago.

Australian Alex de Minaur takes the third seeding ahead of Daniil Mdevedev while defending champion Ben Shelton is seeded fifth.

Published on Aug 02, 2026

#AugerAliassime #playing #hometown #pride #Montreal #Masters">Auger-Aliassime playing for hometown pride at Montreal Masters World number four Felix Auger-Aliassime will be playing for local pride when the ATP Montreal Masters begins on Sunday in his hometown.The Canadian returns as second seed to a tournament he attended frequently as a budding young player, when he used to watch and study his sporting idols up close in training between matches.“There were several times when I didn’t have a ticket, so I would watch all the training sessions,” he said on Saturday at the event, where he is seeded behind Roland Garros winner and Wimbledon runner-up Alexander Zverev.“I learned even more things during training since they (fans) have the chance to be very, very close to the players.”Auger-Aliassime recently split with his longtime coach of 10 years, Frederic Fontang, after losing a frustrating Wimbledon five-set quarterfinal to Novak Djokovic.He will have the bulk of the crowd support at an event which is missing major stars including top-ranked Jannik Sinner, who opted not to play in the wake of his Wimbledon triumph to send tournament organisers into crisis mode.Joining the Italian on the sidelines with less than a month to go before the US Open begins are the 39-year-old Djokovic and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, still testing and healing the right wrist injury which has kept him off court since mid-April.Auger-Aliassime’s best performance at the Canadian event was a quarterfinal four years ago. Last year he lost in the second round.Despite the hometown support, Auger-Aliassime said he will aim to stick to his usual routines and focus solely on his game.“Already, my expectations or hopes are at the same level as the public’s. So already, there is no gap at that level,” he said.“I have my work to do, I have my preparation, I have my routines, so all that doesn’t change.“I try to change as few things as possible, even if I’m playing in Montreal. Yes, I’m a bit more in-demand obviously than at other tournaments, but I try to keep my routines.“The brain is used to having its routines. And that helps to program oneself well or to prepare well for the tournament.”All 28 seeds in the 128-strong field receive first-round byes, with Auger-Aliassime set for the second round against the winner from France’s Luca van Assche and a qualifier.Top seed Zverev reached the Canadian semifinal in Toronto a year ago.Australian Alex de Minaur takes the third seeding ahead of Daniil Mdevedev while defending champion Ben Shelton is seeded fifth.Published on Aug 02, 2026 #AugerAliassime #playing #hometown #pride #Montreal #Masters

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