Young Canadian Marina Stakusic returns to the podcast this week as she speaks with host Mike McIntyre for a feature interview to discuss her 2024 campaign.
Stakusic looks at the positives of her season, elements she's focused on improving going forward, and goals for 2025. Listen to the podcast on your favourite platforms: 
<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/7N1Z2khrWbo8VBN1XOWyhD" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spotify</a><a href="https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/matchpointcanadatcpn?selected=ADV7315373409" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Megaphone </a><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/match-point-canada/id1370718758" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple Podcasts </a><figure><iframe width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/jpVAgHVRPKg" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure>

Podcast

Match Point Canada

Match Point Canada Feature Interview - Marina Stakusic

With his first Masters 1000 title, the current No.62 will move up in the rankings to No.23. 
Not only was his play practically perfect, Popyrin made the most of the opportunities he got from Rublev, who was way out of his comfort zone. 
READ: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2024/granollers-zeballos-reign-supreme-doubles" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Granollers and Zeballos reign supreme in doubles</a>
Rublev got things started by dropping the first seven points and giving Popyrin a 2-0 lead. What happened to Rublev? It was one of two things: he was half asleep or the stakes were too high. It’s happened before. He’s disappeared from four Slam quarterfinals and has never won a Masters 1000 on a hard court. 
It’s a crack he’s talked openly about. He’s an ultra-emotional player who hasn’t yet learned to access his best tennis in high-pressure situations. 
After giving away two breaks in the first set, Rublev found himself down 1-3 in the second. Then, a sudden burst of energy helped him break back and even things out. 
READ: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2024/catching-up-acclaimed-musician-tennis-fan-alexandra-streliski" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Catching up with acclaimed musician and tennis fan Alexandra Stréliski</a> 
Popyrin stays the course

The reversal of fortune didn’t last. He was broken again and had trouble handling his rival’s laser-focused shots. A string of errors then put the match beyond his reach. 
The numbers don’t lie. In the end, Popyrin racked up 72 points, 10 aces and 3 double faults versus 54 points, 4 aces and 5 double faults for his opponent. 
Alexei Popyrin adds the most prestigious title of his career to the two ATP 250 championships already in his trophy case. For his efforts and the surprise he caused, he’ll pocket US$1,040,460, while Rublev will have to make do with US$573,090.
Featured photo by: Pascal Ratthé

Peroni

Tournament News

NBO Results

Peroni Refresh: Alexei Popyrin’s extraordinary feat!

It was the first time since 2002 that a) No member of the “Big Four” (Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray) won a major and, b) No member of the Big Four finished in the top two of the ATP year-end rankings.
With that in mind, it is time to honour the players who seized the spotlight in 2024. The ATP Tour announced their season-ending awards this week. Now the National Bank Open Power Rankings Panel is here to do the same. 
Here are our picks for the 2024 ATP Awards. 
<h3>Singles Player of the Year: Jannik Sinner </h3>
<ul><li>Record: 73-6 </li><li>Titles: 8 </li><li>Biggest Title: Australian Open, US Open </li><li>Year-End Ranking: 1 </li></ul>
Even before the calendar flipped to 2024, Jannik Sinner was the man to beat on the ATP Tour after his scorching-hot finish to 2023 (a run that began with a National Bank Open title in Toronto). The young Italian carried his momentum into the new year, winning his first 16 matches to start the season. 
In his very first event of 2024, he set the tone by tearing through the draw in Melbourne at the Australian Open. He got to the semis without dropping a set and then defeating 10-time champion Novak Djokovic in straight sets to reach his first major final. There, he mounted a thrilling comeback from two sets down to defeat Daniil Medvedev for his first Grand Slam title. 
<figure><iframe width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/b90INDbXX7Y" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure>
Sinner followed up his first major triumph with a win in Rotterdam. Carlos Alcaraz finally put a stop to his run in Indian Wells, but the Italian rebounded to win Miami, going 22-1 overall on the early-season hard courts. 
Even though he failed to lift a trophy on clay, a semifinal run at Roland-Garros combined with Novak Djokovic’s injury withdrawal propelled Sinner to the top spot in the rankings for the first time, becoming the first Italian to hold the top spot. 
Read also: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2024/sinner-takes-torch-best-atp-stories-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sinner Takes the Torch - Best ATP Stories of 2024</a>
He added a title on grass in Halle and then continued his domination on hard courts for the rest of the season. Starting in Cincinnati, Sinner went 29-1 through to the end of the year with four titles, including two Masters 1000s, a second major at the US Open, and a victory at the ATP Finals. His only loss after Montreal was in the Beijing final, a three-plus hour clash with Alcaraz decided in a third-set tiebreak. The Italian finished off 2024 the same way he did 2023, by leading Italy to a Davis Cup victory in Malaga. 
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Sinner’s finished the year with a 94.6 per cent winning percentage on hard courts, the third highest of all time in a season (trailing only peak Roger Federer in 2005 and 2006). He finished almost 4000 points ahead of world No. 2 Alexander Zverev. 
Other Vote-Getters: Carlos Alcaraz 
<h4>Actual ATP Award Winner: Jannik Sinner (Fan Favourite)</h4>
<h3>Doubles Team of the Year: Marcelo Arevalo/Mate Pavic </h3>
<ul><li>Record: 47-20 </li><li>Titles: 4 </li><li>Biggest Title: Roland-Garros </li><li>Year-End Ranking: 1 </li></ul>
Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic inaugurated their partnership in style, kicking off 2024 with a title in Hong Kong in their first tournament together. 
The pair really hit their stride on the clay, where they reached the semifinals or better at five of six events. The El Salvadorian-Croatian pair reached three straight finals to end the clay swing, losing in the title match in Rome before winning Geneva and Roland-Garros, the second major title for Arevalo and fourth for Pavic, completing the Croatian’s career Golden Slam. 
<figure><iframe width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/5Br3DKHRmoI" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure>
Consistency through the remainder of the season carried them to the top spot in the rankings, which they finally seized in November. They reached the semifinals or better at all three big summer hard court events, winning the title in Cincinnati. They finished the year by reaching the final of the ATP Finals, their fifth final in their first year together. 
Other Vote-Getters: Max Purcell/Jordan Thompson, Kevin Krawietz/Tim Puetz 
<h4>Actual ATP Award Winner: Simone Bolelli/Andrea Vavassori (Fan Favourite)</h4>
<h3>Newcomer of the Year: Jakub Mensik </h3>
<ul><li>Record: 25-17 </li><li>Best Result: ATP 250 Doha Runner-Up, ATP Masters 1000 Shanghai Quarter-Final </li><li>Year-End Ranking: 48 (+119) </li></ul>
The teenage Jakub Mensik had only participated in one tour-level main draw prior to 2024, but it did not take long for the Czech to cement himself as a regular on the ATP Tour. 
Read also: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2024/catching-up-montreal-champion-how-rest-2024-went-alexei-popyrin" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Catching up with the Montreal Champion - How the Rest of 2024 Went for Alexei Popyrin</a>
He showed early flashes with some deep Challenger runs in the first few weeks of the season and qualified for his second Grand Slam event at the Australian Open. But the breakthrough came in February at the ATP 250 event in Doha where he took out a string of experienced opponents, most notably world No. 5 Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals, on his way to his first tour-level final, which he lost to Karen Khachanov. 
<figure><iframe width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/zRqTWYv6mi8" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure>
Mensik struggled through the middle of the season, with injuries limiting him on the clay, although he still scored another Top 10 win over Grigor Dimitrov in Madrid, but he picked up his level again once the tour shifted back to the hard courts. He scored a third Top 20 win over the season at the US Open against Félix Auger-Aliassime and then had his best result yet at a big tournament in Shanghai, repeating his greatest hits with wins over Rublev and Dimitrov on his way to the quarter-finals, where he was narrowly edged out by Novak Djokovic. 
The late-season surge allowed Mensik to finish the year as the highest-ranked teen on the ATP Tour. 
Other Vote-Getter: Shang Juncheng, Gabriel Diallo* 
*Asterisk denotes write-in candidate, was not nominated for the ATP’s actual award. 
<h4>Actual ATP Award Winner: Jakub Mensik</h4>
<h3>Comeback Player of the Year: Matteo Berrettini </h3>
<ul><li>Record: 32-12 </li><li>Titles: 3 </li><li>Best Result: ATP 250 Marrakech Champion, ATP 250 Gstaad Champion, ATP 250 Kitzbuhel Champion </li><li>Year-End Ranking: 34 (+58) </li></ul>
Injuries derailed Matteo Berrettini in 2023 and the former Wimbledon runner-up came into the new year barely inside the Top 100. He did not even get his season underway until March, although he got off to a strong start by reaching the final of the Phoenix Challenger in his first tournament of 2024. 
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In just his second ATP Tour-level event of the year, Berrettini was lifting a trophy. He battled through the draw on clay in Marrakech to claim his first title in two years at the ATP 250 event. After a run to the final on the grass in Stuttgart, the Italian won back-to-back titles on the July clay courts in Gstaad and Kitzhbuhel. The latter victory brought his career total to 10 titles on the ATP Tour. 
Berrettini wrapped up his bounce-back year on a high note, winning both his matches in Malaga to help Italy win their second straight Davis Cup. 
Other Vote-Getters: Kei Nishikori 
<h4>Actual ATP Award Winner: Matteo Berrettini</h4>
<h3>Most Improved Player of the Year: Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard </h3>
<ul><li>Record: 16-12 </li><li>Titles: 2 </li><li>Best Result: ATP 500 Basel Champion </li><li>Year-End Ranking: 31 </li></ul>
After announcing himself to the world in 2024, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard is one player no one will want to face in 2025. 
The towering Frenchman transitioned successfully from the Challenger Tour to the main tour midway through the season. Having won three Challenger titles in the first four months, Mpetshi Perricard broke through on the ATP Tour with a title on home soil in Lyon on clay in May. 
<figure><iframe width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/6N99fGLN_wk" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure>
Where the Frenchman really impressed was on the fast surfaces. At Wimbledon, he came through qualifying and then served his way into his first Grand Slam fourth round, including a thrilling five-set win over world No. 21 Sebastian Korda in the first round. He led the tournament in aces with 115 in just four main-draw matches. Not only was he the only player to crack 100, the second most aces was just 78 by Taylor Fritz, who played one more match than the Frenchman. Mpetshi Perricard had almost twice as many aces as both finalists at the All-England Club. 
Read also: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2024/2024-wta-awards-nbo-power-rankings-panels-version" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2024 WTA Awards - NBO Power Rankings Panel’s Version</a>
During the fall, the 21-year-old was again a force to be reckoned with on the speedy indoor courts. In Basel, he blew away the field, scoring wins over Auger-Aliassime, <a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/news/shapovalov-joins-mpetshi-perricards-canadian-victim-list-in-basel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denis Shapovalov</a>, Holger Rune and fellow big-server Ben Shelton with the loss of just one set on his way to the title. He finished 2024 as the tour leader in aces per match with an average of 19, six more than second-place Hubert Hurkacz. 
Other Vote-Getters: Jack Draper, Alejandro Tabilo 
<h4>Actual ATP Award Winner: Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard</h4>
The National Bank Open Power Rankings are a group collaboration by the Power Rankings Panel which includes:
<ul><li><a href="https://twitter.com/PeteB_93" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pete Borkowski</a> – Content Editor, Tennis Canada</li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/boydmel" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Melissa Boyd</a> – Content Writer, Tennis Canada</li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/ChampagneSJade" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sarah-Jade Champagne</a> – Content Specialist, Tennis Canada</li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/EddieJonesLee" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Edward Lee</a> – Content Contributor, Tennis Canada</li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/BenLewisMPC" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ben Lewis</a> – Host, Match Point Canada</li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/hulight" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hugues Leger</a> – Producer, Podcast Sur La Ligne</li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/McIntyreTennis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mike McIntyre</a> – Host, Match Point Canada</li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/SanterreAbraham" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Abraham Santerre</a> – Content Creator, Podcast Sur La Ligne</li><li>Patrick Steski - Content Contributor, Tennis Canada</li><li>Charlotte Robillard-Millette - Content Contributor, Tennis Canada</li></ul>
<h3>Best Moment: </h3>
<ul><li>Pete: The <a href="https://x.com/Served_Podcast/status/1799860538673144271" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alcaraz backhand passing shot to break in the fifth set of the French Open final</a>. </li><li>Mel: Novak Djokovic winning the Olympics to complete the Career Golden Slam </li><li>Eddie: Rafaraz at the Olympics </li><li>Mike: Novak Djokovic winning the Olympics to complete the Career Golden Slam </li><li>Ben: Novak Djokovic winning the Olympics to complete the Career Golden Slam </li><li>Sarah-Jade: Rafa’s Last Dance at Roland-Garros </li><li>Hugues: Alcaraz winning Roland-Garros and Wimbledon, completing the Channel Slam </li><li>Abraham: Alcaraz’s epic win over Zverev at Roland-Garros</li></ul>
<h3>Bold Prediction for 2025: </h3>
<ul><li>Pete: We will get a Sinner-Alcaraz Grand Slam final </li><li>Mel: Taylor Fritz will become the first American man to win a singles major since Roddick in 2003 </li><li>Mike: Novak Djokovic wins his 25th Grand Slam title. </li><li>Ben: Novak Djokovic announces his retirement after the US Open. </li><li>Sarah-Jade: Novak Djokovic will win one more Slam and then retire at season’s end. </li><li>Hugues: Novak Djokovic wins his 25th Grand Slam title. </li><li>Abraham: Novak Djokovic will fall out of the Top 10 </li></ul>
The ATP's best return to Toronto next summer for the National Bank Open July 27 to Aug. 7, 2025 at Sobeys Stadium. 2025 Tickets are on sale. <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/toronto/toronto-tickets-packages" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get your tickets today!</a>
Feature Photo : Martin Sidorjak

Experts

2024 ATP Awards: NBO Power Rankings Panel’s Version

Although the 6’5” Aussie broke into the Top 100 on the eve of his 20th birthday back in June 2019, he’d never really settled in until now. Slowly but surely, he’s been consolidating gains to finally become a threat to the ATP elite.
The NBO is a milestone in Popyrin’s career. It also made him <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/recapitulatif-atp-de-la-journee/2024/peroni-refresh-alexei-popyrins-extraordinary-feat" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the first Australian to win a Masters 1000 title</a> since his Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt 21 years ago. 
 
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/news/_default/12247545/Popyrin-et-trophée-OBN-2024-Pascal-Ratthé-TC.webp" alt="" /><figcaption style="text-align:center;">Photo : Pascal Ratthé/Tennis Canada</figcaption></figure>
On October 31, Popyrin’s season ended in the round of 16 of the Paris Masters at the hands of a masterful Karen Khachanov. Alexei then jetted off to Spain for the Davis Cup Finals, where Hewitt elected to give the court time to World No. 75 Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Despite the disappointment, Popyrin should be very happy about how 2024 unfolded. 
<h3>Built for the hard courts </h3>
Before his Canadian campaign, Alexei hadn’t strung together more than three wins since claiming the titles at the 2023 Croatia Open in Umag (ATP 250) and the Bordeaux Challenger the year before that. 
Just as they did for Pablo Carreno Busta in 2022, the courts in Montréal galvanized Popyrin, and he surprised all of tennis when he sat down on Centre Court to take in his tremendous win with a huge smile on his face. 
 
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/news/_default/12247542/Popyrin-champion-OBN-2024-Patrice-Bariault-TC.webp" alt="" /><figcaption style="text-align:center;">Photo : Patrice Bariault/Tennis Canada</figcaption></figure>
At IGA Stadium, he dismantled six tough opponents, five of whom were in the Top 20 including three in the Top 10, namely No. 39 Tomas Machac, No. 14 Ben Shelton, No. 10 Grigor Dimitrov, No. 6 Hubert Hurkacz, <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/recapitulatif-atp-de-la-journee/2024/peroni-nastro-azzuro-refresh-popyrin-surprises-korda" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">No. 18 Sebastian Korda</a> and No. 8 Andrei Rublev.
Read also: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2024/popyrin-wins-biggest-title-career-gets-private-jet-ride-he-wanted" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Popyrin wins biggest title of career and gets the private jet ride he wanted</a>
On his spectacular run, Popyrin dropped only 2 of 14 sets and collected enough points to move up from No. 62 to No. 23. 
Incidentally, he’s the second lowest-ranked player to win the Canadian title since Mikael Pernfors of Sweden, No. 95 in 1993. The city has been happy hunting grounds for underdogs, since it’s crowned five of its lowest-ranked competitors. 
 
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/news/_default/12247539/Popyrin-US-Open-2024-Corinne-Dubreuil-FFT.webp" alt="" /><figcaption style="text-align:center;">Photo : Corinne Dubreuil/FFT</figcaption></figure>
After the NBO, Popyrin followed up with two more wins over Top 10 players, upsetting No. 2 Novak Djokovic in the third round of the US Open and kicking No. 5 Daniil Medvedev out of the second round of the Paris Masters in late October.
That’s a record of 28-22 in 2024. 
<h3>Frequent flyer </h3>
The Sydney native has come a long way, literally and figuratively. 
The son of Russian immigrants Alex and Helena Popyrin, Alexei took up tennis at the age of four. He was eight when his father moved the family to Dubai and then to Alicante, Nice, Marbella and back to Dubai. 
In 2017, he won the junior event at Roland-Garros and joined the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy later that year. 
 
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/news/_default/12247540/Alexei-Popyrin-champ.-jr.-RG-2017-Tennisworldes.com.webp" alt="" /><figcaption style="text-align:center;">Photo : Tennisworldes.com</figcaption></figure>
And in case you didn’t know, Patrick Mouratoglou and Alexei’s father are the cofounders of the Ultimate Tennis Showdown, an innovative competition format created during the pandemic.
Read also: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2024/sinner-takes-torch-best-atp-stories-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sinner Takes the Torch - Best ATP Stories of 2024</a>
Alexei Popyrin is currently the Australian No. 2 behind Alex de Minaur, who also happens to be a French Open junior champion. 
<h3>On and off the courts </h3>
The best year of Alexei’s career ended on a very happy personal note, too. He and his longtime girlfriend Amy Pederick got engaged in November. 
 
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/news/_default/12247543/Popyrin-engagement-IG-1.webp" alt="" /><figcaption style="text-align:center;">@alexeipopyrin</figcaption></figure>
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/news/_default/12247544/Popyrin-engagement-IG-2.webp" alt="" /><figcaption style="text-align:center;">Photo : @alexeipopyrin</figcaption></figure>
As it turns out, November was an especially romantic month in the ATP. Casper Ruud proposed to Maria Galligani after six years together, and our very own Félix Auger-Aliassime and Nina Ghaibi announced their engagement.
Congrats all around! 
 
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/news/_default/12247541/Montage-fiancailles-Ruud-Félix-IG.webp" alt="" /><figcaption style="text-align:center;">Photos: @casperruud, @felixaliassime</figcaption></figure>
Read also: <a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/news/gabriela-dabrowski-and-felix-auger-aliassime-named-tennis-canadas-2024-players-of-the-year/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gabriela Dabrowski and Félix Auger-Aliassime Named Tennis Canada’s 2024 Players of the Year</a>
The ATP's best return to Toronto next summer for the National Bank Open July 27 to Aug. 7, 2025 at Sobeys Stadium. 2025 Tickets are on sale. <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/toronto/toronto-tickets-packages" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get your tickets today!</a>
Feature Photo : David Kirouac/USA Today Sports

Tour Results

Catching up with the Montreal Champion: How the Rest of 2024 Went for Alexei Popyrin

Hosts Ben and Mike reconvene this week to break down all the ATP and WTA award nominees for 2024, and debate their selections on Player of the Year, Most Improved, Comeback Player, Newcomer and much more.
They also discuss Novak Djokovic's huge hire of Andy Murray as his next coach, a final farewell from Juan Martin del Potro, and Iga Swiatek's doping case.
They also make their picks for the best men's and women's moments of the year.
All of that and more on the latest episode of MPC! Listen to the podcast on your favourite platforms: 
<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/7N1Z2khrWbo8VBN1XOWyhD" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spotify</a><a href="https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/matchpointcanadatcpn?selected=ADV7315373409" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Megaphone </a><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/match-point-canada/id1370718758" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple Podcasts</a>
<figure><iframe width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/V2j24Was1F8" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure>
&amp;t=322s

Match Point Canada Episode 40: 2024 ATP & WTA Awards

The American looked very comfortable yet again playing in front of a Canadian crowd as she defended her crown from Montreal a year earlier with <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/recapitulatif-de-la-journee/2024/cashmere-wrap-jessica-pegula-defends-her-national-bank-open-title-toronto" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a three-set victory over Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 2-6, 6-1</a>.
About her success in Canada, Pegula said: 
“I've <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2024/jessica-pegula-continues-love-affair-national-bank-open-title-defence-within-reach" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">always just played well here</a>, and I think my results kind of show that. Especially Toronto, it's nice, it's so close to Buffalo. I had a lot of friends, family, and my grandparents, my husband was able to come today, that's cool. I don't really get that at a lot of tournaments. Then to be able to win the tournament as well, and to be able to share that moment with them is really special.”
<figure><iframe width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Hs7Lmab9hcc" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure>
Pegula didn’t rest on her laurels after her victory here in the Great White North and instead used the title in Toronto to propel her to back-to-back finals at the 1000-level event in Cincinnati and then reach her first major final at the US Open in New York. She went a spectacular 15-2 during that time. 
Read also: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2024/sustaining-momentum-from-national-bank-open-us-open" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sustaining Momentum from the National Bank Open to the US Open</a>
The only player to defeat Pegula during her superb summer swing was Aryna Sabalenka, who took her out in the finals both in Cincy and Flushing Meadows. 
At the US Open, Pegula broke her streak of 22 straight majors without making it past the quarter-finals by beating World No. 1 Iga Swiatek to make her first-ever Slam semi. 
<figure><iframe width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/eXOMURiWrn0" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure>
After that meaningful victory over Swiatek, Pegula was asked by the press about finally breaking through that barrier:
“I would like to say I'm so happy that you guys cannot ask me [anymore] about making it to the semis. It wasn't even a me thing. It was more people asking me. I'm really happy to be through to the semifinals. I thought I played a really clean match, served pretty well, returned well. I feel like I didn't really do anything that bad, and was able to kind of jump on her really early and I think frustrate her, and was able to keep my level even when she picked it up in the second set. I think I just played all-around really good tennis today.”
Read also: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2024/sabalenka-cements-top-dog-status-best-wta-stories-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sabalenka Cements Top Dog Status - Best WTA Stories of 2024</a>
“It wasn't so much the round,” Pegula continued. “It's just, like, winning a big match...There's a lot of other variables; beating her, the No. 1 player in the world, Ashe, prime time, trying to make a semifinal, knowing that I'm up, knowing that I'm playing well, I'm giving myself a really good opportunity.”
Pegula then headed to China, fully entrenched as the No. 1 American player, to participate in the Asian swing. She showed some fatigue during this stretch of the season which was understandable given her busy summer schedule which had also included her participation in the Paris Olympic Games prior to her title in Toronto. 
<figure><iframe width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/sScbLUqyhM0" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure>
One positive in Asia was that Pegula showed off her doubles skills, managing a finals appearance in Wuhan alongside Asia Muhammad. 
Read also: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2024/wta-the-flower-year" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jasmine (Paolini) - WTA Flower of the Year</a>
The 30-year-old finished her year at the WTA Finals in Saudia Arabia where she lost both of her singles round-robin matches in straight sets to eventual champion Coco Gauff and Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova. 
Pegula arrived at the event in less-than-perfect health and then aggravated an existing knee injury and was forced to withdraw after her first two matches. 
Read also: <a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/news/canada-confirms-its-place-among-the-world-leading-tennis-nations-with-a-rise-in-participation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Canada Confirms its Place Among the World-leading Tennis Nations With a Rise in Participation</a> 
Pegula shared that, “I went to Asia, and it wasn't the greatest Asian Swing ever. I think it kind of snaps you back pretty quickly. Like tennis is, it's a new week with new challenges. That's all I'm really focusing on now.”
Pegula faced many new challenges in 2024 and had arguably her most successful season as a pro. Now, with the relief of having sustained success at a major, it will be interesting to see how Pegula fares at the Slams in 2025. How much higher can she climb and can Pegula repeat as NBO champ for a third straight year when she returns to Montreal? 
The WTA's best return to Montreal next summer for the National Bank Open July 26 to Aug. 7, 2025 at IGA Stadium. 2025 Tickets are on sale. <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/montreal/montreal-tickets-packages" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get your tickets today!</a>
Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak

Catching Up With the Toronto Champion: How the Rest of 2024 Went for Jessica Pegula

The event will be bigger and better in more ways than one thanks to its <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/nbo-redefined" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new 12-day format</a> which will introduce additional players (from 56 to 96), rounds (seven instead of six), and sessions (21 instead of 15), not to mention a revamped on-site offering across the board from food and beverage to on-site activities and entertainment in <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/montreal/what-do-iga-stadium" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Montreal</a> and <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/toronto/what-to-do-at-sobeys-stadium">Toronto</a>. 
But what does that mean for the fan experience when it comes to the match schedule and buying tickets to see even more world-class tennis from July 26-August 7? Don’t worry, let us break it down for you. If it starts to feel like déjà vu that’s because we’re approaching the Grand Slam formula. 
<figure><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12244632/NBO_Redefined_2025.webp" alt="" /></figure>
<h3>A Big Opening Weekend for Little Fans – Qualifying and First Round (July 26 and 27)</h3>
Both cities will once again kick off their festivities with the always-popular IGA Family Weekend in Montreal and the 407 ETR Family Weekend in Toronto which are tailormade for fans of all ages. Starting in 2025, qualifying will be a one-day affair on Saturday, July 26 with 32 players vying for a place in the main draw. Free grounds passes are available for the day as well as reserved seating on the main show courts starting for as little as $10. It’s the perfect opportunity to introduce your friends and family to tennis.
<figure><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12244018/Family_weekend.webp" alt="" /></figure>
Both opening weekends will wrap up on the first Sunday of the tournament with a noteworthy slate of first round matchups on tap during the day and at night. 
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;width:432px;max-width:432px;"><a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/montreal/tickets-packages/montreals-family-experience" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12244630/IGA_Family_Weekend_Montreal_CTA.webp" width="432" height="101" alt="" /></a></figure>
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;width:428px;max-width:428px;"><a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/toronto/tickets-packages/torontos-family-experience" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12244629/407_ETR_Family_Weekend_CTA.webp" width="428" height="116" alt="" /></a></figure>
<h3>Opening Week – First, Second, and Third Rounds (July 28 – August 1) </h3>
An expanded 96-player main draw means an extra round and a first-round bye for the top 32 seeds (previously, only the top 8 seeds were given byes), so more of the best players will debut on Tuesday or Wednesday. Each round up until the semi-finals will be contested over two days and players will also benefit from a day of rest between matches. 
<figure><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12244019/Opening_Night.webp" alt="" /></figure>
Tickets for these sessions provide the most value for fans wanting to catch a glimpse of tennis’ biggest names and the next generation of stars. 
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/montreal/tickets-packages/montreal-single-session-tickets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12244003/Montreal_Single_Session_Tickets_CTA.webp" width="432" height="101" alt="" /></a></figure>
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/toronto/tickets-packages/toronto-single-session-tickets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12244004/Toronto_Single_Session_Tickets.webp" width="432" height="117" alt="" /></a></figure>
<h3>Middle Weekend – Round of 16 (August 2 and 3) </h3>
The second weekend at NBO will be must-see for every tennis fan, from the avid followers to the newcomers, as the remaining 16 players go head-to-head for a place in the quarter-finals over two days and four sessions. 
<figure><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12244020/Middle-Weekend.webp" alt="" /></figure>
It promises to be a hot ticket, not only because of the must-see contests, but also because of the festival-like feel that will reign around the grounds thanks to the plethora of activities and entertainment on tap. Hey, if the tennis Gods are going to bless us with a weekend in the middle of our tournament, we’re going to take full advantage. And while we’re at it, may we recommend our multi-session packages that allow you to attend as many sessions of your choice as you want at a preferred rate. It’s your chance to build your own tennis adventure. 
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/montreal/tickets-packages/montreal-multi-session-packages" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12244005/Montreal-Multi-Session-Packages.webp" width="433" height="101" alt="" /></a></figure>
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/toronto/tickets-packages/toronto-multi-session-packages" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12244006/Toronto-Multi-Session-Packages.webp" width="432" height="117" alt="" /></a></figure>
<h3>Second Week – Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, and Finals (August 4-7) </h3>
Speaking of a hot ticket, popular will surely be used to describe what’s on offer during week two with the final three rounds of the tournament set to be held exclusively on Centre Court and exclusively at night over a period of four days, offering more matches in primetime, elevating the experience for fans on-site and those watching from home. 
<figure><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12244021/Second-Weekend.webp" alt="" /></figure>
The inaugural edition of NBO Redefined will culminate with the crowning of our 2025 singles and doubles champions under the lights on Thursday, August 7. 
Given these additional opportunities to enjoy the excitement of a live sporting event, our ticket options provide you the flexibility to hand pick the products that best suits your schedule, your passion for tennis, and your budget. There’s something for everyone including the diehard fan who is eager to attend all 21 sessions and share the ultimate tennis experience with their guest list. 
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/montreal/tickets-packages/montreal-full-event-packages" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12244007/Montreal_Full_Event_Packages_CTA.webp" width="433" height="101" alt="" /></a></figure>
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/toronto/tickets-packages/toronto-full-event-packages" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12244008/Toronto_Full_Event_Packages.webp" width="432" height="117" alt="" /></a></figure>
The 2025 National Bank Open may mark the dawn of a new era for tennis in Canada, but the familiarity of its welcoming nature, vibrant energy, and electric atmosphere will still make it feel like the good old days. 
DID YOU KNOW THAT THE NBO IS A TENNIS CANADA EVENT 
By attending the tournament, you are <a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/donate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">contributing to a brighter future for tennis in Canada.</a>

<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12248596/Group-249.webp" alt="" /></figure>
*Dates, schedules, sessions, and programming are subject to change.
<h3> </h3>
<h3>Last Chance for Early Bird Tickets – The Perfect Holiday Gift!&#x1f384;</h3>
Make this holiday unforgettable with the gift of tennis! Don’t miss your last chance to secure early bird prices to experience a redefined National Bank Open presented by Rogers in 2025!&#x1f381;
 

Montreal Session Tickets at Early Bird Prices 


Starting at just $35, single session tickets are the perfect holiday gift for tennis fans. Save up to 30% to experience the excitement of seeing the top players on the WTA Tour. 
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12246974/600x400_obn_owned_email_v1_eng.webp" alt="" /></figure>
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/montreal/tickets-packages/montreal-single-session-tickets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12246971/Early_Bird_Mtl_CTA.webp" width="439" height="103" alt="" /></a></figure>
 

Toronto Multi-Session Packages at Early Bird Prices 


Multi-session packages offer the ultimate gift for tennis fans: thrilling matches, the best seats on Centre Court, and the flexibility to customize your experience.

<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12246973/600x400_nbo_owned_email_holiday_eng_v1.webp" alt="" /></figure>
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/toronto/tickets-packages/toronto-multi-session-packages" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12246972/Early_Bird_Tor_CTA.webp" width="439" height="103" alt="" /></a></figure>

The Ultimate Ticket Guide to the 2025 NBO Redefined Experience

It may seem gloomy to kick off the best of 2024 with the Spanish king’s abdication rather than the Italian prince’s coronation, but a legend taking his leave is significant. 
<h3>¡Adiós al Rey ! </h3>
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/news/_default/12244195/Gracias-Rafa-Stadio-de-Malaga-Nov.-2024.webp" alt="" /><figcaption style="text-align:center;">Photo : @TheTennisLetter</figcaption></figure>
A 28,000-square-foot banner the width of a stadium. It was likely one of the most gigantic posters in sports history and no doubt on par with the illustriousness of the man for whom it was intended.
The whopping thank you hung as Rafael Nadal Parera, eternal king of clay and vice-GOAT as far as Slams, competed in his final tournament. On November 19, the Malaga venue that hosted the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup finals had the sentimental honour of seeing him off. 
 
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/news/_default/12244200/Nadal-adieux-Malaga-2024.webp" alt="" /><figcaption style="text-align:center;">Photo : ATP</figcaption></figure>
Spain’s Raging Bull gave it his all, but time waits for no one.
Read also: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2024/king-canada-revisiting-rafael-nadals-five-titles-national-bank-open" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">King of Canada - Revisiting Rafael Nadal’s Five Titles at the National Bank Open</a>
It was curtains in his home country, though his most beloved venue remains Stade Roland-Garros where he was handed an unbelievable 14 trophies (112-4). He won 63 of his 92 total titles on clay. 
 
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/news/_default/12244197/Montage-Nadal-action-FFT-Guardian.webp" alt="" /><figcaption style="text-align:center;">Photos : FFT &amp; The Guardian</figcaption></figure>
At the Davis Cup, he lost his only singles match as Spain was ousted 2-1 by the Netherlands. After the match, a lengthy ceremony included <a href="https://url.avanan.click/v2/r03/___https://x.com/TennisTV/status/1859017850687811805___.YXYyYzp0ZW5uaXNjYW5hZGE6YTpvOjRiZmI4OWFmMjA0YmJkNDhkZDU2ZjY2MDk3MGQ1M2Y0Ojc6MzFkNzowY2E4NjliYThlNDMzNjMyMjE3NWEyYzQ3YzkxOWE2YjVmNjM0MTJmZDZhZGEzYmVhYmQyNWMwN2JjYTE2MTk3OnA6VDpO" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a moving montage featuring some of Spain’s most decorated athletes</a> and Rafa’s three amigos in the Big Four. 
<h4>Nadal by the numbers </h4>
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/news/_default/12244199/Nadal-2-époques-IG-AP.webp" alt="" /><figcaption style="text-align:center;">Photos : IG &amp; AP</figcaption></figure>
<ul><li>1,080 	ATP wins</li><li>92 	singles titles</li><li>36 	Masters 1000 titles</li><li>22 	Slam titles</li><li>14 	French Open titles</li><li>5 	years ended at No. 1</li><li>209 	weeks at No. 1</li><li>912 	weeks in the Top 10 (2005–2023)</li><li>4 	Davis Cup titles</li><li>2 	Olympic gold medals</li><li>$134, 946, 100 in prize money (the second-highest paid player in history)</li></ul>
<h3>Forza Jannik ! </h3>
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/news/_default/12244203/Sinner-wins-Davis-Cup-Davis-Cup.webp" alt="" /><figcaption style="text-align:center;">Photo : Davis Cup</figcaption></figure>
On Oct. 12, Jannik Sinner officially clinched the year-end No. 1 ranking, the first Italian to do so. Six weeks later, he closed out his dazzling 69-6 season with 8 shiny new winner’s trophies, including the hardware from the ATP Finals, Australian Open, and US Open. 
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/news/_default/12244196/Montage-8-titres-Sinner-2024-@redtyres.webp" alt="" /><figcaption style="text-align:center;">Montage photos : @redtyres</figcaption></figure>
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/news/_default/12244202/Sinner-Italy-champions-Davis-Cup-2024-Davis-Cup.webp" alt="" /><figcaption style="text-align:center;">Photo : Davis Cup</figcaption></figure>
As a bonus, he led his country to its second straight Davis Cup without dropping a set in singles or in doubles, just like he did last year (yes, really).
<a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/news/2024-world-cup-of-tennis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CLICK HERE</a> for everything you need to know about Team Canada's performance at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals. 

So what’s all that worth? His wages reflect his record. In 2024, he banked $17M and doubled his career earnings, which now total $33M. 
Amazing. 
<h3>Match of 2024: Sinner vs. Alcaraz</h3><h3> </h3>
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/news/_default/12244201/Sinner-et-Alcaraz-handshake-Beijing-2024-Reuters.webp" alt="" /><figcaption style="text-align:center;">Photo : Reuters</figcaption></figure>
“Tennis is in safe hands!” 
That’s what a TV commentator said moments after Carlos Alcaraz downed Jannik Sinner 6-7(6), 6-4, 7-6(3) in what was undoubtedly the showdown of the season. 
Read also: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2024/3-reasons-why-12-day-national-bank-open-going-smash" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">3 Reasons Why a 12-Day National Bank Open is Going to be a Smash</a>
Although that could be said of pretty much all their clashes, the nearly three-and-a-half-hour battle in the final of the China Open in October was one for the books. 
 
<figure><iframe width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/2QrCtBIoZWo" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure>
As far as rivalries go, theirs is cemented. In 2024, they walked away with an equal share of two Slams apiece. 
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/news/_default/12244205/Alcaraz-Sinner-New-Grand-Slam-Guard-2024-banner-ATP.webp" alt="" /><figcaption style="text-align:center;">Photo Montage : ATP</figcaption></figure>
<h3>Rookie of the year: GMP</h3>Sports are often defined by numbers and statistics, and our rookie of the year is no exception to that unwritten rule. 
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/news/_default/12244193/Giovanni-Mpetshi-Perricard-Basel-2024-Reuters.webp" alt="" /><figcaption style="text-align:center;">Photo : Reuters</figcaption></figure>
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard is the ATP’s latest heavy hitter and he uses his 6 feet, 8 inches to the absolute best of his ability by combining short and fast motion with singular power.
The Frenchman started out 2024 at No. 205 and ended it at No. 31. That’s 174 spots in the rankings. He secured his first pro title at his hometown Challenger in Lyon and truly emerged at Wimbledon, where he pummelled Sebastian Korda with 51 aces. 
 
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/news/_default/12244194/Giovanni-Mpetshi-Perricard-Wimbledon-2024_2024-11-26-194525_fown.webp" alt="" /><figcaption style="text-align:center;">Photo : ATP Tour</figcaption></figure>
From October 21 to 29, he asserted his dominance and embarked on <a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/news/shapovalov-joins-mpetshi-perricards-canadian-victim-list-in-basel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a fantastic run at the ATP 500 Swiss Indoors in Basel</a> where he hit 87 aces, lined up six straight wins, raised the winner’s trophy and, most significantly, went 86 games without being broken.
So GMP is more than a bazooka in sneakers. The quality and speed of his forehands and backhands are remarkable. He’s already a complete player. 
<h3>Young retirees club</h3><h3> </h3>
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/news/_default/12244204/Thiem-Karlovic-Sousa-Milman-retirement-ATP.webp" alt="" /><figcaption style="text-align:center;">Photo : ATP</figcaption></figure>
Rafa wasn’t the only one to retire in 2024. So did Dominic Thiem, Ivo Karlovic, Joao Sousa and John Millman, and they were all honoured at the ATP Finals in Turin.
Read also: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2024/sabalenka-cements-top-dog-status-best-wta-stories-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sabalenka Cements Top Dog Status - Best WTA Stories of 2024</a>
In related news, Andy Murray retired this past summer only to announce last week that he was heading back out on tour. In 2025, he’ll be coaching the most decorated player in history, Novak Djokovic (what?!). 
There’s a lot to look forward to in 2025! 
 
<figure style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/news/_default/12244206/Djokovic-et-Murray-Laver-Cup-22-AP.webp" alt="" /><figcaption style="text-align:center;">Photo : Yahoo Sports</figcaption></figure>

The ATP's best return to Toronto next summer for the National Bank Open July 27 to Aug. 7, 2025 at Sobeys Stadium. 2025 Tickets are on sale. <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/toronto/toronto-tickets-packages" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get your tickets today!</a>
Feature Photo : Davis Cup

Sinner Takes the Torch: Best ATP Stories of 2024

Listening to the chorus of this 1972 musical hit, it's hard not to think of the tennis player who shares her first name with this flower: Jasmine Paolini.
The same player who, during several “sweet days of summer”, enjoyed a breathtaking emergence marked by an Olympic gold medal and two consecutive Grand Slam finals.
<figure><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12243883/Paolini-back-to-back-GS-Finals.webp" alt="Jasmine Paolini montage" /></figure>
Photo - Reddit 
So, my vote for the WTA Player of the Year Award goes to this tiny Italian girl with a huge heart.
What? An athlete who hasn't won a single Grand Slam title and isn't even in the WTA Top 3?
Read also: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2024/sabalenka-cements-top-dog-status-best-wta-stories-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WTA Stories of 2024</a>
Indeed. Because, beyond the big names, it's not just the number of achievements that should be measured but also the distance covered. An immense path that led her to the Olympus of team tennis: the Italian conquest of the Billie Jean King Cup.
<figure><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12243884/Paolini-and-Italy-BJK-Cup-TTC.webp" alt="Jasmine Paolini - Italy BJK Cup champions" /></figure>
Photo - TTC 
Nothing defined Paolini more than the term “underdog” when she began her journey on the WTA Tour. Between 2017 and 2019, she held her own between No. 130 and No. 230 in the rankings. She finally broke into the Top 100 at the age of 24 and then into the Top 30 in early 2024 at the age of 28.
As the saying goes, “It's never too late to do the right thing...”.
That’s not all. No matter what the scientists think, the size of today's top athletes remains a factor to be considered in tennis. And yet, this 5-foot, 3-inch Italian, whose average first serve velocity is just 155 km/h, has made her way up to world No. 4 over the past year.
<figure><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12243895/Paolini-serve-Wimbledon-2024-Reuters-002.webp" alt="Paolini Wimbledon" /></figure>
Photo - Reuters 
Paolini has played 60 tour-level matches, with a record of 40-20. Of these, 22 were played in Grand Slams and she won 18 of them.
You may be surprised to learn that this 18-4 record is the second-best of 2024 on the WTA, only trailing Aryna Sabalenka (18-1). Yes, better than those of Iga Swiatek (15-3), Coco Gauff (16-4), Elena Rybakina (11-3) or Jessica Pegula (8-3), all of whom were regulars in the Top 5 for more than a year.
These two summer finals at major tournaments are almost unreal. Since 2019, Paolini's records at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon have been 2-4 and 0-3 respectively. In 2024, they were 6-1, each time.
<figure><iframe width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/JF2aUc4ghfs" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure>
In 12 months, she approaches $6 million in prize money, almost tripling her career earnings to nearly $8.5 million.
Oh yes, I almost forgot. It turns out that the energy bombshell also makes a name for herself in doubles.
Not only did Paolini compile a 34-15 doubles record, but she also won four titles to climb to 10th place in the world rankings, with the added bonus of a French Open final in the company of her constant companion and compatriot, Sara Errani.
<figure><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12243885/Paolini-Errani-champions-Beijing-2024-China-Open.webp" alt="Paolini Errana Beijing champions" /></figure>
Photo - China Open 
As if that wasn't enough, together, the “Atom Ants” went on to win the Olympic gold medal in Paris before picking up two victories in as many matches to help Italy conquer the Billie Jean King Cup in Malaga.
<figure><iframe width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/FuQdMI38QP4" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure>
<figure><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12243896/Errani-et-Paolini-Olympic-champions-Paris-2024-Reuters.webp" alt="Paolini Errani Olympic Gold" /></figure>
Photo - Reuters At the WTA finals in Riyadh, she was the only woman to play both events.
With such a bouquet of achievements, it's hard not to want to name Jasmine the Flower of the Year.<figure><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12243899/Paolini-triomphante-BJK-2024-AP-002.webp" alt="" /></figure>
Photo - AP

Features

WTA - The Flower of the Year

<h3>Top Players Consolidate</h3>
2024 was truly a year where the top players cemented their hold on the upper echelon of the women’s game. While there was some movement from a year ago, most notably a change in the year-end No.1 ranking for the first time since 2021, there remains a small group of women who have maintained their dominance consistently all season long. 
Aryna Sabalenka continued her strong play at the slams by starting and finishing the majors in 2024 with victories. In January, she defended her Australian Open title with a win over rising star Qinwen Zheng and then in September, she grabbed her first US Open championship against American Jessica Pegula. <figure><iframe width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/sScbLUqyhM0" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure>
Due in part to her strong play at the majors, Sabalenka took the No. 1 ranking from Iga Swiatek to conclude the year. 
While Swiatek finished at No. 2, she proved once again to be the undisputed Clay-Court Queen, taking home titles in Madrid, Rome, and, once again, at Roland-Garros. This was the fourth of the past five French Open’s that have ended with Swiatek lifting the trophy.
Read also: <a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/news/magic-runs-out-in-malaga-for-canada-at-billie-jean-king-cup/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Magic Runs Out in Malaga for Canada at Billie Jean King Cup</a>
Also keeping her spot in the top three in the world was 20-year-old Coco Gauff, who started the year well by making the semis in Australia and Paris before slumping through the summer, struggling mightily on her serve. 
Gauff would recover thanks to a coaching change in the fall as she won the China Open and made the semis in Wuhan. She closed out the year with a bang by beating all of the year’s slam winners at the WTA Finals and taking out the Olympic Gold medalist Zheng in possibly the match of the year to win the entire event. <figure><iframe width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/5cnwifdMQBY" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure>
It will be interesting to see if anyone can unseat these top three women in 2025 given their consistency over the last few years. 
<h3>Qinwen Zheng: Star Power Unleashed </h3>
Towards the end of the summer swing in 2023, Marijn Bal, agent to Qinwen Zheng, boldly predicted that his client had big things in store for 2024. He said with confidence that she would crack the Top 10 and contend for her first major, and the 22-year-old from China did just that and then some. <figure><iframe width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Zu_6wtDU6yU" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure>
Zheng started her year by making the finals of the Australian Open, which vaulted her into the Top 10 and then won her first title of the year in Palermo at the start of the summer on clay. 
Read also: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2024/qinwen-zheng-emergence-chinese-tennis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Qinwen Zheng and the emergence of Chinese tennis</a>
She continued her strong play on the surface by capturing the Olympic Gold medal at the Paris Games. Most impressive in her run to the top of the podium was her victory over the usually-dominant Iga Swiatek on clay in straight sets. 
Zheng finished the year ranked No. 5. 
<h3>Coaching Shake-Ups </h3>
The weeks following the US Open turned into <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2024/coaching-carousel-continues-wta-tour" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a coaching carousel</a> in the women’s game with some major changes happening between some of the best in the sport and their former mentors. 
Former World No. 1 Naomi Osaka got the ball rolling when she parted ways with Wim Fissette in mid-September. The four-time Slam champ has turned to Patrick Mouratoglou, who memorably got some of the best years out of Serena Williams later in her career. <figure><iframe width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Fy-nrpUfVYA" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure>
Coco Gauff had a very successful 2023 bringing in Brad Gilbert who helped her win her first major at Flushing Meadows. But when things got tough in the middle of 2024, she realized it was time for a change once again. She’s been working with Matt Daly as her new coach and the results have been terrific so far. 
Read also: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2024/sustaining-momentum-from-national-bank-open-us-open" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sustaining Momentum from the National Bank Open to the US Open</a>
Iga Swiatek also parted ways with her longtime coach Tomasz Wiktorowski and turned to one of the recently available options when she locked down the aforementioned Fissette. Most surprising was that Swiatek made the decision while still ranked No. 1 in the world, something that doesn’t happen often in any sport.
<h3>American Women on Fire </h3>
2024 saw the continued rise of American women in both rankings and results. They can boast of having three of the Top 10 players in the world at season’s end as well as 17 in the Top 100 of the rankings. <figure><iframe width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Hs7Lmab9hcc" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure>
Aside from Gauff’s achievements in 2024, the strength of Jessica Pegula was on full display this summer and Canadian tennis fans got to see that up close at the National Bank Open in Toronto where she stormed her way to the final without dropping a set before <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/recapitulatif-de-la-journee/2024/cashmere-wrap-jessica-pegula-defends-her-national-bank-open-title-toronto" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">defeating fellow American Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 2-6, 6-1</a>. 
Pegula continued her strong play by making the finals in Cincinnati and the US Open (her first time past the quarter-finals at a major) falling just short both times at the hands of Aryna Sabalenka. 
The WTA's best return to Montreal next summer for the National Bank Open July 26 to Aug. 7, 2025 at IGA Stadium. 2025 Tickets are on sale. <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/montreal/montreal-tickets-packages" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get your tickets today!</a>
Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak

Sabalenka Cements Top Dog Status: Best WTA Stories of 2024

Tennis Channel host Steve Weissman stops by to speak with Ben about Jannik Sinner's title and massive 2024 campaign, takeaways from his rival Carlos Alcaraz, the consistency and improvement from Taylor Fritz and much more.
They also discuss Rafael Nadal's final goodbye upcoming at the Davis Cup Finals and the resurgence of Denis Shapovalov.
Meanwhile, there are signed tennis balls from Gabriel Diallo for one lucky listener!
Ben also looks back on a tough loss for the Canadians at the BJK Cup Finals.
All of that and more on the latest episode of MPC!
Listen to the podcast on your favourite platforms: 
<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/7N1Z2khrWbo8VBN1XOWyhD" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spotify</a><a href="https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/matchpointcanadatcpn?selected=ADV7315373409" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Megaphone </a><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/match-point-canada/id1370718758" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple Podcasts</a>
<figure><iframe width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/xXqzvJbUeSo" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure>&amp;t=289s

Match Point Canada Episode 39 - ATP Finals with Steve Weissman

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The WTA just released their awards for the 2024 season, but does the National Bank Open Power Rankings panel agree with their decisions? 
Here are our choices for 2024 WTA Awards. 
<h3>Singles Player of the Year: Aryna Sabalenka </h3>
<ul><li>Record: 56-14 </li><li>Titles: 4 </li><li>Biggest Title: Australian Open, US Open </li><li>Year-End Ranking: 1 </li></ul>



2024 was the year when Aryna Sabalenka finally wrestled control of the WTA Tour away from Iga Swiatek. Despite having briefly held the No. 1 ranking in late 2023, it was over the last 12 months that the 26-year-old firmly established herself as the world’s best player. <figure><iframe width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/kLdkTzDbXVE" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure>
While she was particularly dominant on hard courts, winning both majors on the surface as well as two WTA 1000 titles in Cincinnati and Wuhan, Sabalenka was an all-surface threat in 2024. She reached both WTA 1000 finals on clay in Madrid and Rome, losing to Swiatek both times although the Madrid final was an all-time epic decided in a third-set tiebreak. She also reached the quarter-finals of Roland-Garros. 
Read also: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2024/sabalenka-cements-top-dog-status-best-wta-stories-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sabalenka Cements Top Dog Status - Best WTA Stories of 2024</a>
Sabalenka rose to the occasion in 2024 on the biggest stages, going 18-1 in Grand Slam events and reaching the quarter-finals or better at the last six WTA 1000 events of the year, closing out the season by reaching the semifinals of the WTA Finals. She finished more than 1000 points ahead of Swiatek for the top spot in the rankings.
Other Vote-Getters: Jasmine Paolini 
<h4>Actual WTA Award Winner: Aryna Sabalenka</h4>
<h3>Doubles Team of the Year: Gabriela Dabrowski/Erin Routliffe </h3>
<ul><li>Record: 39-14 </li><li>Titles: 2 </li><li>Biggest Title: WTA Finals </li><li>Year-End Ranking: <ul><li>As a team: 2nd in the race to the WTA Finals (although once WTA Finals are added, they finished with the most points of any team in 2024)</li><li>Routliffe: 2</li><li>Dabrowski: 3</li></ul></li></ul>






Despite not adding a second major title to their haul in 2024, Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe were one of the most consistent tandems on the WTA Tour this year. 
They reached the quarter-finals or better at all three majors they played, including getting to the title match at Wimbledon, as well as at four of the seven WTA 1000 events they participated in. That includes the National Bank Open in Toronto where they reached the final. The Canadian/Kiwi team saved their best for last, <a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/news/dabrowski-makes-more-history-with-wta-finals-victory/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">winning the title at the WTA Finals</a>. <figure><iframe width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/1Db2NiNWFcQ" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure>
Their victory made Dabrowski the first Canadian woman ever to lift a trophy at the year-end championships. 
Including their victory at the WTA Finals, Dabrowski and Routliffe finished with more points than any other team on the WTA Tour, a feat made even more impressive given that the Canadian skipped the entire clay-court season, including two WTA 1000 events and Roland-Garros. 
Overall, they reached six finals in 2024 and won two titles, Riyadh in November and the 250 event in Nottingham on grass in June. 
Other Vote-Getters: Katerina Siniakova/Taylor Townsend, Sara Errani/Jasmine Paolini, Jelena Ostapenko/Liudmila Kichenok 
<h4>Actual WTA Award Winner: Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini</h4>
<h3>Newcomer of the Year: Lulu Sun </h3>
<ul><li>Record: 38-19 </li><li>Best Result: WTA 500 Monterrey Runner-Up, Wimbledon Quarter-Final as Qualifier </li><li>Year-End Ranking: 40 (+179) </li></ul>


2024 was the first year of Lulu Sun’s career where she spent most of the season on the WTA main tour and she certainly made an impression. The season was full of firsts for the 23-year-old from New Zealand, starting with coming through qualifying to make her Grand Slam debut right at the start of the year at the Australian Open. <figure><iframe width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/1eLBmBPIyIg" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure>
At Wimbledon, Sun truly announced herself to the world coming through qualifying again and then reaching the quarter-finals, a run of seven straight wins on the hallowed lawns of the All-England Club (seven matches in normally enough to win a major, but she had to win three in qualies). That run included victories over world No. 8 Qinwen Zheng, her first Top 10 win, and former US Open champion Emma Raducanu. 
Read also: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2024/catching-up-with-toronto-champion-how-rest-2024-went-jessica-pegula" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Catching Up With the Toronto Champion - How the Rest of 2024 Went for Jessica Pegula</a>
Sun spent the rest of her season on the main tour and reached her first tour-level final at the WTA 500 event in Monterrey. 
Other Vote-Getter: Erika Andreeva 
<h4>Actual WTA Award Winner: Lulu Sun</h4>
<h3>Comeback Player of the Year: Amanda Anisimova </h3>
<ul><li>Record: 21-13 </li><li>Best Result: WTA 1000 National Bank Open Toronto Runner-Up </li><li>Year-End Ranking: 39 (+320) </li></ul>


Anisimova returned to the WTA Tour in January after a seven-month break from the sport, having cited burnout and mental health reasons for stepping away. Her first-round win in Auckland was her first match win in nearly 11 months. 
The former world No. 21 started to pick up her pace on the clay before really hitting her stride in the summer. First, she reached the quarter-finals as a qualifier in Washington in July and then went on a tear in Toronto. <figure><iframe width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/0BV65S7Z52Q" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure>
At the National Bank Open, she won her first five matches, including four over Top 10 opponents, <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2024/anisimova-keeps-making-strides-upsets-sabalenka-first-1000-semifinal-toronto" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">most notably then-world No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka</a> in straight sets, on her way to the biggest final of her career so far, also her first final since January 2022. While <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/recapitulatif-de-la-journee/2024/cashmere-wrap-jessica-pegula-defends-her-national-bank-open-title-toronto" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">she came up short against the red-hot defending champion Jessica Pegula</a>, she still forced the soon-to-be US Open finalist to three sets. 
Having started the year outside the Top 350, the 23-year-old finished 2024 just inside the Top 40. 
Other Vote-Getters: Paula Badosa, Karolina Muchova, Emma Raducanu 
<h4>Actual WTA Award Winner: Paula Badosa</h4>
<h3>Most Improved Player of the Year: Diana Shnaider: </h3>
<ul><li>Record: 55-23 </li><li>Titles: 4 </li><li>Best Result: WTA 500 Bad Homburg Champion, WTA 1000 National Bank Open Toronto Semifinalist </li><li>Year-End Ranking: 13 (+47) </li></ul>



Only one player on the WTA Tour won titles on all three surfaces in 2024: Diana Shnaider. 
In her first full year on tour, the 20-year-old quickly established herself as a force to be reckoned with. The first title was on hard courts in Hua Hin in February. She added a grass win in Bad Homburg in June and less than a month later was a champion on clay in Budapest to complete the surface sweep. <figure><iframe width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/HH5S5NXAzNM" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure>
Having made her WTA 1000 debut in Indian Wells in March, Shnaider had her best showing at a big tournament in Toronto, reaching the semifinals of the National Bank Open. That run included <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2024/diana-shnaider-continues-2024-breakout-upset-gauff" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a third-round demolition of top seed and world No. 2 Coco Gauff</a>. 
Shnaider also ended the year with bang, winning her final tournament in Hong Kong. Only Iga Swiatek won more titles in 2024 than the 20-year-old. 
Other Vote-Getters: Emma Navarro, Jasmine Paolini*, Danielle Collins 
<h4>Actual WTA Award Winner: Emma Navarro</h4>
*Asterisk denotes write-in candidate, was not nominated for the WTA’s actual award. 
The National Bank Open Power Rankings are a group collaboration by the Power Rankings Panel which includes:
<ul><li><a href="https://twitter.com/PeteB_93" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pete Borkowski</a> – Content Editor, Tennis Canada</li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/boydmel" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Melissa Boyd</a> – Content Writer, Tennis Canada</li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/ChampagneSJade" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sarah-Jade Champagne</a> – Content Specialist, Tennis Canada</li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/EddieJonesLee" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Edward Lee</a> – Content Contributor, Tennis Canada</li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/BenLewisMPC" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ben Lewis</a> – Host, Match Point Canada</li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/hulight" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hugues Leger</a> – Producer, Podcast Sur La Ligne</li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/McIntyreTennis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mike McIntyre</a> – Host, Match Point Canada</li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/SanterreAbraham" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Abraham Santerre</a> – Content Creator, Podcast Sur La Ligne</li><li>Patrick Steski - Content Contributor, Tennis Canada</li><li>Charlotte Robillard-Millette - Content Contributor, Tennis Canada</li></ul>
<h3>Best WTA Tour Moment of 2024:</h3>
<ul><li>Pete: Aryna Sabalenka meeting her mini-me at the US Open </li><li>Mel: Aryna Sabalenka dominating the hard-court majors, winning both with the loss of just one set. </li><li>Eddie: The epic Madrid final between Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka </li><li>Mike: Aryna Sabalenka taking over the No. 1 ranking </li><li>Ben: Coco Gauff beating Qinwen Zheng in the match of the year in the final of the WTA Finals. </li><li>Sarah-Jade: Danielle Collins (mic drop) </li><li>Hugues: Aryna Sabalenka taking over the No. 1 ranking </li><li>Abraham: Emma Navarro’s run at the US Open </li></ul>







<h3>Bold Prediction for 2025:</h3>
<ul><li>Pete: A non-Top 10 player will win a Grand Slam </li><li>Mel: Karolina Muchova will win a Grand Slam </li><li>Mike: Naomi Osaka returns to the Top 20 </li><li>Ben: Jessica Pegula will win a Grand Slam </li><li>Sarah-Jade: Jasmine Paolini will beat Iga Swiatek in the Roland-Garros final </li><li>Hugues: Serena Williams attempts a comeback </li><li>Abraham: Coco Gauff will win two slams (Wimbledon and US Open) </li></ul>
The WTA's best return to Montreal next summer for the National Bank Open July 26 to Aug. 7, 2025 at IGA Stadium. 2025 Tickets are on sale. <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/montreal/montreal-tickets-packages" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get your tickets today!</a>
Feature Photo: Peter Power

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