Canada's annual tennis extravaganza opened Monday in its largest city on a perfect summer day as the world, gripped by Olympic fever, continued to cast its longing gaze at London.

This year Toronto welcomes to Rogers Cup the world's top men's tennis players, many of whom having just competed in the Olympics. But neither of the world's biggest tennis stars will grace the courts at Rexall Center, much to the disappointment of local tennis fans.

Citing injury or fatigue, Roger Federer of Switzerland and Rafael Nadal of Spain, both two-time Rogers Cup champions, pulled out of the tournament last week, so did ATP No. 5 player David Ferrer of Spain. Andy Roddick of the United States, the 20th-ranked ATP player who was the Rogers Cup champion in 2003, also bowed out.

But in a city known for its long winters and fleeting yet gorgeous summers, its tennis fans are determined to enjoy the one week during the height of the Canadian summer watching some of the best tennis matches and worshipping the biggest stars.

Rolando Idolor, a veteran volunteer, demurred when asked if the audience turnout was lower because of the London games. When pressed, he said Monday's turnout may be a little lower because it was the first round.

"Tomorrow there will be more people because the seeded players will be there," he predicted, hopefully. But he then noted that men's tournament typically draws a larger crowd.

During the afternoon matches, when most of the stadium baked in the brilliant summer sunshine, the stands were occupied by a smattering of spectators, leaving vacant the majority of the seats. The evening matches drew a large crowd, as is the norm, but an ample number of seats remained available.

But the turnout did not put a dent on the enthusiasm of the most determined fans, who cheered on their favourite players, even thought tennis is known as a genteel sport where loud cheering is discouraged.

The local fans cheered on 22-year-old Vasek Pospisil of Vancouver to victory 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 over 26th-ranked Andreas Seppi of Italy but failed to propel Peter Polansky of Toronto the second round, who went down in defeat against Australia's Matthew Ebden.

Idolor may well turn out to be right once seeded players start arriving on the courts. Newly minted Olympic champion Andy Murray of Britain, who won Rogers Cup in 2009 and 2010, is making his debut on Wednesday; while the reigning Rogers Cup champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia will play 19-year-old Bernard Tomic of Australia, the youngest player this year.

Tomic defeated qualifier Michael Berrer of Germany 3-6, 6-3 and 6-3 on Monday, ending a losing streak of five matches and earning a spot to face off against Djokovic on the hardcourt for the first time.

In total, seven of the Top 10 ATP players will compete in the tournament.

Rogers Cup is one of the Masters 1000 Events on the ATP World Tour calendar, with more than 3 million in prizes to be given out this year. In Montreal this week, the top female players compete in the WTP part of Rogers Cup. Each year Toronto and Montreal hosts the world's top male and female players by turns.

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