Connect with us

Masters National Bank Open Player News

WTA Montreal Preview: Gauff and Swiatek Eye Success in Final Major Build-Up

Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff aim for strong showings at Montreal as they build toward the final Slam.

Published

on

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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.

Published

on

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

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.

Published

on

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

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.

Published

on

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending