National Bank Open preview: What to expect and when to watch

The National Bank Open kicks off next week as the men take over Montreal and the women showcase in Toronto. With many players from both ATP and WTA tours either still in contention in the Paris Olympics or just coming off of a loss this past week, major, high-profile withdrawals have already been signaled. However, last year's winners will look to reclaim their titles as they return to last year's glory grounds.

In the nation of Canada’s only significant pro tennis tournament, fans will be out to watch some of the biggest tennis stars in the world in two of the country’s most beautiful cities. Not all is good news, though, as elite competitors such as Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz have both withdrawn.

Rafael Nadal, a five-time champion in Canada, has also withdrawn, but that is hardly a surprise as he played both singles and doubles in Paris, not to mention a tune-up tournament in Bastad, Sweden where he finished as the runner-up, the week before the Olympics.

 Will returning National Bank Open winners become repeat champions?

Jessica Pegula and Jannik Sinner claimed victories last year, and both players are gearing up to defend their titles. 

Pegula boasts an exceptional 12–2 record in Canada. To top that off, she has never crashed out before the semi-finals in this tournament. Can she keep the streak alive? We’re sure to find out. Competition will be fierce as she will see Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka, Bianca Andreescu, and others along the way.

Jannik Sinner, the current world No. 1, is in the middle of one of his best years as a young tennis pro. His path should be slightly easier, considering the withdrawals of Novak, Alcaraz, and Nadal. Sinner did not play in the Olympics, nor has he played a match since Wimbledon - a key factor that may be on his side when August 7th rolls around.

 Players to keep an eye on

Bianca Andreescu, 2019 champion, enters as a wild card this year and looks to get a once promising start to her career back on track. Having been rattled with injuries lately, Andreescu, the highest-ranking Canadian player of all time, is coming from an Olympics loss to Italian sensation Jasmine Paolini.

Naomi Osaka, a multi–Grand Slam champion, is another player to watch over the next week. Osaka, like Andreescu, has also experienced a sporadic past two seasons but has been back in the fold much of this year. 

World No.1 ranked Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka, and Paolini are the top seeds heading into next week. 

In Montreal, a contingent of hometown Canadians will compete with Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov, while Milos Raonic and Vasek Pospisil enter the tournament as wild cards. Other names include top-tier stars such as Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, Alex de Minaur, rising star Ben Shelton, and, of course, the top-ranked player, Jannik Sinner.

Despite the withdrawals, the National Bank Open should no doubt again bring thrills to the Eastern Canadian landscape. Year after year, the stadiums in Toronto and Montreal are packed from top to bottom. Will we see a pair of repeat champions? Or will the crowns be placed on another set of heads? Will it be a hometown hero? The National Bank Open kicks off August 7–12 as the hard court stretch of the season takes flight.

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