NBO REDEFINED

By adopting a new 12-day main draw format and featuring 96-player main draws for men and women, the National Bank Open joins an elite group of six extended combined events on the WTA Hologic and ATP Tours (Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Rome and Cincinnati).

With a structure closer to the one adopted by the Grand Slams, our tournament will be able to reach new heights. As one of the best events in the world, the NBO will give more fans the chance to enjoy more matches and benefit from an even deeper pool of top players. This new format will also be beneficial for the health of the players since it will provide them with a rest day in between matches, up until the semi-finals, to ensure better recovery time and top performance levels. Having a longer tournament will also give the cities of Montreal and Toronto a longer window to shine on the international level.

The National Bank Open will be able to offer equal prize money to both women and men players starting in 2027 thanks to the support of its long-time partner National Bank as well as additional resources from WTA Ventures. 

The expansion to a 12-day model will also help the tournament grow its revenue which in turn will help it gradually close the prize money gap between men and women. The National Bank Open’s WTA prize money is projected to rise from roughly 32% of the ATP prize money to nearly 60% by 2025, when both events expand to 12-day main draw formats, to 78% in 2026 and to 100% by 2027.

There are many benefits for a 12-day main draw format.

• For fans, there are more players playing more tennis over more days and sessions, plus on-site programming will take on a new lease of life, with even more fun activities and player engagement opportunities. It also brings more exposure to our host cities, Toronto and Montreal.

• For the tournament, it allows flexibility in scheduling and, therefore, the chance to increase pre-promotion of when players will be playing.

• Finally, for the players, they will be provided with a rest day in between matches, up until the semi-finals, to ensure optimized player health, recovery time and top performance levels.

There are no plans to cancel the Family Weekends in Toronto or Montreal. Making tennis accessible to families is an important priority of Tennis Canada’s and it will remain so regardless of the expansion to a 12-day main draw model.

When you purchase a ticket for the NBO, you are buying a session number, not a specific round or a match featuring a particular player. This means your ticket is tied to a session, but the dates, times, and programming are subject to change due to weather, scheduling adjustments, or possible cancellations. 

It’s important to follow the session number you purchased to stay informed about any updates. You will receive notifications by email and can check the latest information on our website.

Tennis is a sport influenced by many factors, especially the unpredictable duration of matches. Some matches can last longer than expected, causing delays in the subsequent sessions. Additionally, weather conditions, such as rain, can interrupt matches and force the organization to adjust the schedule. These changes are necessary to ensure that matches are played under the best possible conditions for the players.

Adding extra dates in 2025 also helps spread out the matches over a longer period, reducing pressure on the schedule in case of delays or bad weather. This also means more opportunities for spectators to watch high-quality matches while ensuring a better overall experience.

Regardless, you’ll get to see world-class matches at every session!