The prestigious National Bank Open in Montreal ushers in a critical phase of the WTA season with top-tier play as Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff seek to capitalize on their recent Grand Slam triumphs. Swiatek, seeded second, arrives determined to reclaim the No. 1 ranking and to sustain her momentum after clinching her maiden Wimbledon title. Her participation injects significant star power into a draw missing Aryna Sabalenka.

For both Swiatek and Gauff, this tournament represents an opportunity to build towards the final major of the year. Gauff returns to competitive action following an early exit at Wimbledon, where she was defeated by Dayana Yastremska. Both athletes have yet to reach the final at this event, making their campaigns this year particularly important.

Swiatek’s path appears challenging, with possible early encounters against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Clara Tauson, both players enjoying successful seasons. The quarterfinals could see matches against Madison Keys, Belinda Bencic, or Karolina Muchova, with a semifinal potentially setting up a clash with two-time defending champion Jessica Pegula.

Gauff, meanwhile, may face Danielle Collins in an early round, followed by possible matches against Jasmine Paolini, Ekaterina Alexandrova, or Diana Shnaider—the latter having defeated Gauff previously in Montreal. Gauff’s confidence will be closely watched after her breakthrough at Roland Garros and the disappointment at Wimbledon.

Jessica Pegula, seeking a third consecutive title at her near-home event, remains a formidable contender on the fast courts favored by the Buffalo native. Despite some inconsistencies this season, she holds an impressive overall record of 35-14 with three titles and a world ranking of No. 4.

As the 96-player draw unfolds, the Montreal tournament offers an engaging preview of the race to the year’s concluding Grand Slam, highlighting the competitive depth and narratives unique to the WTA tour.

In a challenging year shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic, Rafael Nadal’s appearance at the 2021 Citi DC Open marked a significant and memorable moment for the tournament. Mark Ein, tournament director, shared insights about Nadal’s participation and the unique arrangements behind it.

Nadal, recovering from a foot injury that forced him out of Wimbledon, accepted a reduced yet fair appearance fee as the tournament operated under COVID restrictions with only half the stands filled. “His team actually called and said: ‘He wants to play DC, tell us what is fair, and we will take it. He needs to play,’” Ein revealed on the ‘Nothing Major’ podcast.

The tournament, which occupies a difficult spot on the calendar, typically sees Nadal take an extended break after the grass-court Grand Slam. His decision to compete was therefore notable and sparked tremendous interest. Fans eagerly bought out tickets, with a waiting list of 15,000 people. Ein described the atmosphere: “The whole town is buzzing, our community is buzzing… The level of interest in this event [was] unprecedented in our five decades of this tournament.”

Nadal’s matches provided thrilling tennis despite his injury concerns. He edged out Jack Sock in a three-hour battle before falling to Lloyd Harris in the second round. His practice sessions were highly attended, providing essential financial support for the event, which had been canceled in 2020.

In appreciation of Nadal’s trust and the positive impact on the event, Ein later increased his appearance fee beyond the initial offer. “I literally called and just said I am going to give you a meaningful amount more because I want to keep in the spirit of being fair… It was amazing,” Ein said.

Since Nadal’s 2021 participation, the Citi DC Open has expanded its stature, becoming the only joint-500-level tournament on both the ATP and WTA tours, reflecting its growing prestige and appeal.

Emma Raducanu has identified significant advancements in her game since reaching her last hard-court semifinal some 33 months ago at Seoul in 2022. The British player showcased her growth with a notable quarterfinal victory over Maria Sakkari at the 2025 Citi DC Open, prevailing 6-4, 7-5 despite a challenging second set that saw her trail 5-2 and endure a medical check-up.

“I think 2022, the last semis I made in Seoul, the quality of opponents I have just beaten here is a lot higher, and I think also the way the tournament has moved on, every match is a lot more difficult,” Raducanu analyzed in her post-match press conference. “I’d say it’s a completely different era of tennis, and I’m playing a lot better to try and match that.”

She credited three main areas for her improvement: competitiveness, serve, and defensive skills. Raducanu said, “I think the areas I have improved I think, one, my competitiveness. I think that’s one of my bigger strengths when I am focused and in the zone. And I think that’s something I found a lot more from, you know, March this year. I think I have been a lot more focused and competitive for each point and not being flat or defeated.”

On her serve, she noted, “The last few matches I have been getting a lot more free points. I know, like, whenever I have played well or had great results, that’s been working really well.”

Regarding her defensive game, Raducanu added, “Movement of my defensive skills have probably been the biggest improvement. I think I’m able to kind of dig out some points and stay in the points and use a bit more hand skills, slice, get an extra ball back. I think it tends, not every point, but some really important moments, it can help. I think that has improved the most.”

Raducanu’s 2025 season has marked a return to consistency, with 21 match wins, her career best in a single year outside team events. Her ranking is expected to climb from 46th to 32nd following her Washington run.

However, concerns arose with Raducanu requiring medical checks during her match and retiring from the doubles semifinal, citing the oppressive heat and humidity as factors. She described the conditions: “I think the humidity here, as well, it just makes it feel completely like you have just opened an oven and it just stayed open and your head is in there. That’s how it feels.”

Raducanu will face Russian Anna Kalinskaya in the semifinals after Kalinskaya defeated Clara Tauson.