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Masters National Bank Open WTA

Montreal WTA 1000 Draw Unveiled: Swiatek, Raducanu, and Gauff Highlight Key Matches

Top seeds Swiatek, Raducanu, and Gauff face key matches as the WTA 1000 Canadian Open begins in Montreal.

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The seventh WTA 1000 event of the year is set to begin at Montreal’s IGA Stadium from July 27 to August 7. This tournament features seven of the top 10 ranked players in the women’s singles draw, creating a highly competitive field.

Notably absent from the draw is world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who withdrew before the draw was finalized. The top two seeds remaining are Coco Gauff, ranked No 2 globally, and Iga Swiatek, the newly crowned Wimbledon champion. Defending champion Jessica Pegula, who won the previous edition in Toronto by beating Amanda Anisimova, is also in action.

Coco Gauff leads the top section of the draw and could start her campaign against Danielle Collins, provided Collins overcomes a qualifier. Their meeting would be a first-time encounter. Gauff’s path may lead her to face seeds Jasmine Paolini, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Beatriz Haddad Maia, and Ashlyn Krueger in later rounds. In Gauff’s half of the draw, fourth seed Mirra Andreeva could meet Emma Navarro in the quarter-finals.

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Iga Swiatek heads the bottom half of the draw and enjoys a first-round bye due to her seeding. Swiatek’s opening opponent will be a qualifier or Yulia Putintseva, the last player to defeat Swiatek at Wimbledon. Further rounds may see her face Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and seeds Clara Tauson or Magdalena Frech. Madison Keys, the Australian Open champion, is also in Swiatek’s quarter and could challenge the Pole in the quarter-finals.

Emma Raducanu, returning to her British No 1 ranking, begins her Montreal run against Elena-Gabriela Ruse. Raducanu’s next potential opponent is 32nd seed Peyton Stearns, with Amanda Anisimova projected in the third round—against whom Raducanu holds a favorable head-to-head record recently. Seeds Elina Svitolina and Elise Mertens present additional challenges on her path. Pegula is the highest seed in Raducanu’s quarter, with Liudmila Samsonova, Jelena Ostapenko, and Magda Linette among other contenders.

Wildcards for the event include 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu and Canadian prospect Victoria Mboko, adding local interest to the mix. The tournament promises compelling matchups and significant ranking point opportunities as players vie for the prestigious WTA 1000 title in Montreal.

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Analytics National Bank Open WTA

Ranking Points at Stake for Top Players at the 2025 Canadian Open

Key players face significant ranking point changes at the 2025 Canadian Open and Washington Open.

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As the 2025 Canadian Open approaches, players face significant ranking point changes influenced by their performances at this event and the 2024 Washington Open. The Canadian Open, a key WTA 1000 event in the North American hard-court season, runs from July 27 to August 7, stretched over 12 days for the first time.

Jessica Pegula, the defending champion, has the highest points at stake with 1,000 points to defend from her 2024 victory in Canada. She did not compete in the Washington Open last year, so her points drop there is zero. Amanda Anisimova, the 2024 runner-up in Canada, will lose a total of 783 points—650 from Canada and 133 from reaching the Washington quarter-finals.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, absent from both the Washington Open and the Canadian Open this year, will lose 410 points earned from last year’s semi-final and quarter-final results in Washington and Canada respectively. Sabalenka chose to rest after Wimbledon and currently holds a solid lead in the rankings, with 12,420 points before the Canadian Open.

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Coco Gauff, ranked second globally and reigning French Open champion, will drop 120 points, having reached the third round in last year’s Canadian Open but not playing in Washington. Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek holds no points to defend at either event, having not played in either during 2024.

Other notable players including Mirra Andreeva, Jasmine Paolini, and Elena Rybakina did not participate in either Washington or Canada last year, meaning they face no points losses here.

Emma Raducanu, excluded from last year’s Canadian Open due to ranking, will not lose points there but will see her 108 points from a 2024 Washington quarter-final expire. Raducanu’s stronger performance this year, reaching the Washington semi-final, will add 195 points after the Canadian tournament.

The unique scheduling this year, following a 2024 calendar impacted by the Paris Olympics, requires players to drop points from two tournaments. This complex ranking update will take place following the Canadian Open, affecting player seedings and rankings ahead of the US Open.

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ATP Masters National Bank Open

Key Matches and Players in Focus at Washington D.C., Montreal, and Toronto Tournaments

Washington D.C. finals approach as Montreal and Toronto tournaments begin with notable players competing.

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This past Saturday saw three trophies awarded in ATP and WTA tour events, while in Washington D.C. the thrilling conclusion of the combined 500-level tournament awaits. Meanwhile, the main draws of the prestigious tournaments in Montreal and Toronto have commenced, bringing some of the sport’s notable talents into the spotlight.

At the WTA event in Washington, Anastasia Kalinskaya emerges as a strong contender, undefeated in eight sets so far, including a semifinal victory over Emma Raducanu. Her final opponent Leylah Fernandez showcased resilience by overcoming top seed Jessica Pegula 7-5 in the third set in the quarterfinals and later defeating third seed Elena Rybakina after being a set down and trailing 5-3. Fernandez’s prior encounter with Kalinskaya, four years ago in Guadalajara, resulted in a win for Fernandez, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.

On the ATP side in Washington, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina continues his impressive run, backing up his recent upset over top seed Taylor Fritz with a straight-sets win against Ben Shelton. Davidovich Fokina aims to capture his first tour-level title after previously falling short in three finals this year. His opponent, Alex de Minaur, is on the verge of claiming his 10th career title and currently leads ATP players with 20 hard-court victories in 2025.

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The Montreal event features an engaging lineup including rising star Diane Mboko, who is set to face Kimberly Birrell. The evening session highlights a match between former major champions Bianca Andreescu and Barbora Krejcikova. Local favorites Marina Stakusic and Rebecca Marino will compete on Centre Court alongside 20-year-old Alexandra Eala, who matches up against fellow left-hander Marketa Vondrousova.

In Toronto, the Masters 1000 tournament has begun with a mix of established and emerging players. Frenchmen Gael Monfils and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard are scheduled for day matches, complemented by Americans Reilly Opelka and Learner Tien. The night session on Center Court will feature wild card Vasek Pospisil in his 44th event appearance and Thiago Seyboth Wild Fonseca, who is participating in his sixth Masters 1000 event. The Brazilian player is coming off a third round showing at Wimbledon.

Rain interrupted semifinal matches on Saturday, leaving only one game completed between Harold Mayot and Stefanos Sakellaridis. Play will resume with Mayot leading 1-0, before the final between Lukas Klein and Switzerland’s Jakub Paul is contested.

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Masters National Bank Open WTA

National Bank Open 2025 Preview: Pegula Seeks Third Straight Title Amid Absence of Sabalenka

Jessica Pegula targets a historic third consecutive National Bank Open title amid a strong field.

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The 2025 National Bank Open presented by Rogers returns to Montreal for its women’s tournament, with Jessica Pegula aiming to secure an unprecedented third consecutive title at this WTA 1000 event. Pegula, who claimed victories in both Montreal two years ago and Toronto last year, arrives alongside top contenders including Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff. Notably, Aryna Sabalenka withdrew earlier in the month to rest ahead of Cincinnati, opening the field to other title hopefuls.

Historically, the tournament has seen champions like Bianca Andreescu, Camila Giorgi, Simona Halep, and Pegula herself, underscoring its competitive prestige. Court conditions in previous years have influenced play significantly; for instance, the men’s event in Montreal last year recorded a Tennis Abstract Surface Speed of 0.78, indicating slower courts with 22% fewer aces than average tour surfaces. Such conditions favor players who combine power with patience and endurance.

Amanda Anisimova’s recent Wimbledon final performance was disappointing, losing 6-0, 6-0, but reaching that stage after a notable semifinal win over Sabalenka signals her rising potential. She exhibits strong baseline power, a world-class backhand, and improving court movement, which could yield a deep run in Montreal’s slower hard-court conditions if she maintains confidence.

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Jessica Pegula’s adaptability across different court speeds has been demonstrated by her back-to-back titles at this tournament, irrespective of venue shifts between Montreal and Toronto. Her strong recent hard-court form, including a 15-2 win-loss record last year from Toronto through the US Open—with losses only to Sabalenka—makes her a credible favorite to excel as the hard-court season advances.

With multiple contenders present and conditions demanding a mixture of power and grit, this year’s National Bank Open promises engaging matches and intense competition.

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