While Raducanu became the first qualifier to ever win a Major, Boisson was only two matches away from landing a Grand Slam title in her Grand Slam debut. Eventual champion Coco Gauff foiled her opportunity at a truly historic achievement, but not before Boisson’s career trajectory — and life — forever changed. Not that the grounded Boisson, who was ranked no. 361 before the French Open began, herself expects much to differ away from the courts. “I have a great team with me, and I'm going to keep my feet well on the ground and all will be well,” said Boisson, who catapulted to no. 65 in the rankings following Roland-Garros. Let’s learn more about the 22-year-old, who looks set to make her WTA 1000 debut at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers in Montreal in July. <h3>Where was she born? </h3>Boisson was born in — somewhat fittingly since she cut the mustard at Roland-Garros — Dijon. She shares a May 16 birthday with another dark-haired French Open semifinalist — and the 1988 winner in Montreal — Gabriela Sabatini.READ: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2025/american-tennis-thriving-french-open-champion-coco-gauff-helm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">American Tennis is Thriving with French Open Champion Coco Gauff at the Helm</a>Boisson now resides around another tourist hotspot in France, Annecy, sometimes called the ‘Venice of the Alps.’<h3>Did she play the juniors?</h3>If junior rankings provide an indication of success at the pro level — we know that’s often not the case — Boisson’s career-high of no. 71 in 2021 wouldn’t have put her on the radar of many outside France. In her lone junior Grand Slam, Boisson did claim a set against current Top 20 regular Diana Shnaider. But injuries delayed her arrival to the big stage. It’s now well known that Boisson suffered a torn ACL just ahead of the 2024 French Open — after being given a wildcard to the year’s second Major. However, even before then, she didn’t play many matches (about 40 combined) in 2021 and 2022 due to other injuries, including one to her shoulder. <figure class="media"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lYWahfmtAZk" style="visibility: visible;" width="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></figure><h3>Who is her idol? </h3>Boisson’s favourite player is the undisputed King of Clay Rafael Nadal. She told the French Tennis Federation that watching the Spaniard land his 13th French Open title in 2020 had a significant impact. Later, she received a wildcard to compete in French Open qualifying, getting a chance to warm up on the same court, Philippe-Chatrier, that Nadal made his own. “It's a moment that marked me,” Boisson said. “I said to myself, ‘This is where I want to be.’”<h3>Has she played any WTA tournaments? </h3>Boisson’s injuries and associated lower ranking meant she only ever played one WTA tournament before the French Open, in Rouen, France in April. Was it eventful? You could say that. She started by easing past Harriet Dart, who during the match told the chair umpire that Boisson smelled “really bad.” Dart later apologized but Boisson saw the funny side, posting on social media that Dove should sponsor her. In her next outing, Boisson led Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima 6-1, 5-1 and held a match point — only to lose in three sets. That experience might have helped her at Roland-Garros, where she held firm to close out Top 10 players Jessica Pegula — the two-time defending NBO champ — and Mirra Andreeva. Boisson started her French Open by ousting another seed, Elise Mertens. <h3>How about the other surfaces? </h3>Boisson’s heavy forehand — a combination of speed and spin — is especially handy on clay courts, as is her drop shot. She enjoys gliding on the clay while her two-handed backhand can sometimes produce magic down the line. How does her game translate to the other surfaces? We’ll soon find out. Only about 70 of her 210 matches at professional tournaments have come outside of clay. Through the week of June 8, she has never competed on grass, while her winning percentage at hard court events (all of which are at lower levels) sits at roughly 50%. But one thing is for certain — given her huge ranking bump, Boisson figures to feature much more on hard courts for the rest of this year. The WTA's best <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2025/the-ultimate-ticket-guide-2025-nbo-redefined-experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">return to Montreal this summer</a> for the National Bank Open presented by Rogers July 26 to Aug. 7, 2025 at IGA Stadium. 2025 Tickets are on sale. <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/montreal/montreal-tickets-packages" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Get your tickets today!</a>Feature photo: ©Nicolas Gouhier / FFT

Roland Garros

Get to Know Lois Boisson: France’s New WTA No. 1

Days until National Bank Open: 39<h3>Qualifier to Queen</h3>For the first time in 52 years, a women’s champion was crowned at the prestigious Queen’s Club in London. However, in a field that involved Top 10 players Qinwen Zheng, Madison Keys, and Emma Navarro, it was qualifier Tatjana Maria who hoisted the trophy in the end.The 37-year-old earned four-straight Top 20 wins en route to the title, including back-to-back victories over Grand Slam champions Elena Rybakina and Keys. The German became the first qualifier to win a WTA title since Sonay Kartal at the 2024 Jasmin Open.<figure class="media"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n6t73MoyOy4" style="visibility: visible;" width="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></figure>Thanks to the triumph, Maria was the biggest riser in the recent rankings update, moving up 43 spots to 43rd.Fellow qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse went on a run of her own at the Libema Open but fell short in the final against Elise Mertens. The Romanian still rose 22 spots to 58th in the rankings.<h3>Zheng still in search of year’s first title</h3>At the halfway point of 2025, it’s slightly hard to believe that world No. 4 Zheng has yet to win a title this year, especially considering that every other member of the Top 7 has a trophy to their name.Read Also: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2025/comeback-queen-revisiting-monica-seles-dramatic-1995-return-tennis-toronto" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Revisiting Monica Seles’ Dramatic 1995 Return to Tennis in Toronto</a>Still, the Chinese No. 1 has been consistent. Coming in as the No. 1 seed at the Queen’s Club, Zheng reached her sixth quarter-final in her last seven tournaments, losing to eventual finalist Amanda Anisimova. <h3>Blockbusters in Berlin</h3>As the Berlin Tennis Open gets underway, the draw has produced some very intriguing matchups. After cruising through the first round, world No. 9 Navarro and world No. 10 Paula Badosa meet in the second round. As well, Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini faces two-time All-England Club finalist Ons Jabeur.<figure class="media"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FqR-iPZzupo" style="visibility: visible;" width="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></figure>Not to mention that both Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff are in the tournament, having the potential to set up <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2025/destination-nbo-stm-gauff-caps-off-clay-season-roland-garros-title" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">a Roland-Garros final</a> rematch in the German capital.Others remain in England for the Rothesay Nottingham Open as Beatriz Haddad Maia and Clara Tauson come in as the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, respectively. Canadian Leylah Annie Fernandez is also a part of the field, looking for her first-career WTA non-hard court title.<h4>All winners from last week:</h4>WTA 500 London<ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li>Women’s Singles: Tatjana Maria* (1/4) d. Amanda Anisimova</li><li>Women’s Doubles: Asia Muhammad/Demi Schuurs d. Anna Danilina/Diana Shnaider</li></ul>WTA 250 ‘s-Hertogenbosch<ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li>Women’s Singles: Elise Mertens* (2/10) d. Elena-Gabriela Ruse</li><li>Women’s Doubles: Irina Khromacheva/Fanny Stollar d. Nicole Melichar-Martinez/Liudmila Samsonova</li></ul>*(2025 titles/career titles)The WTA's best return to Montreal this summer for the National Bank Open presented by Rogers July 26 to Aug. 7, 2025 at IGA Stadium. 2025 Tickets are on sale. <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/montreal/montreal-tickets-packages" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Get your tickets today!</a>Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak

Destination NBO Montreal

Destination NBO by STM: WTA Tour goes green

In the quarter-finals, Gauff trailed Madison Keys by two breaks, 4-1, and Keys had game points to get to 5-1 in the first set. Gauff lost the opener in a tiebreak but eventually came out on top, 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-1, helped by Keys’ 60 unforced errors. Days later in the grand finale at Court Philippe-Chatrier, Aryna Sabalenka also led the American by two breaks and served at 4-1, 40-0, only to require a tiebreak in the first. Once again Gauff turned the tables, this time against an increasingly frustrated World No. 1 on a blustery, chilly day in Paris. The final score read 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 as Sabalenka delivered 70 unforced errors. “It was super tough when I walked on the court and felt the wind because we warmed up with the roof closed,” said Gauff afterwards. “I was, like, ‘This is going to be a tough day.’ And I knew it was just going to be about will power and mental.”As was the case against Sabalenka in the U.S. Open final in 2023, the world No. 2 proved superior to the Belarusian between the ears. Sabalenka also led by a set in New York and had things well under control, only to unravel while Gauff soared in the final two sets in front of her home crowd at the cavernous Arthur Ashe Stadium. READ: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2025/destination-nbo-stm-wta-tour-goes-green" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Destination NBO by STM: WTA Tour goes green</a>Gauff became the first America woman to triumph at Roland-Garros since Serena Williams in 2015. A lengthy drought, yes, but it is not nearly as long as the men’s funk that dates back to 1999 when Andre Agassi — who was in Paris to hand out the trophies to men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz and finalist Jannik Sinner after their five-set classic — completed his Grand Slam collection. Further, since Serena’s title 10 years ago — an ill Williams engineered one comeback after another during the fortnight — her compatriots Sloane Stephens, Sofia Kenin and Gauff have all made the final. While any one player matching Serena’s feat of 24 Grand Slams appears unlikely, the American women are certainly flourishing. This week, 18 are ranked inside the Top 100 (getting to 19 hasn’t happened since January 1999). American women also hold both Grand Slams this year (Keys and Gauff), with Jessica Pegula — the two-time defending champion at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers — almost getting the ball rolling on a USA trifecta at the 2024 U.S Open.<figure class="media"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FS5kgdLghps" style="visibility: visible;" width="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></figure>Among the newer faces <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2025/whos-expected-play-2025-national-bank-open" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">expected to line up in Montreal</a> come July are Ashlyn Krueger, McCartney Kessler and Hailey Baptiste. Krueger’s power game has been likened to 2022 Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina. Kessler’s best results so far, like Krueger, have come on hard courts and the former University of Florida standout topped Gauff in February for a maiden Top 10 victory.  Baptiste, meanwhile, possesses an all-around game. Net rushing and slices dovetail with baseline pop, which helped the 23-year-old reach the fourth round at Roland-Garros on her favourite surface. Baptiste is co-coached by Frances Tiafoe’s twin brother, Franklin.Back to Gauff, she studied French and spent ample time at Patrick Mouratoglou’s academy in the south of France. She didn’t address the crowd at Roland-Garros in French, though, because she thought she wasn’t up to scratch. “So maybe if I get another opportunity, I can try again,” said Gauff. “For sure, I don't think I can do a whole speech, but maybe at least, like, a good something to say to the French crowd.”Peut-être à Montréal or maybe in Montréal, where Gauff lost to the eventual champion in the quarter-finals — Pegula and Camila Giorgi — in her previous two visits.  The WTA's best <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2025/the-ultimate-ticket-guide-2025-nbo-redefined-experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> return to Montreal this summer</a> for the National Bank Open presented by Rogers July 26 to Aug. 7, 2025 at IGA Stadium. 2025 Tickets are on sale. <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/montreal/montreal-tickets-packages" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Get your tickets today!</a>Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak

American Tennis is Thriving with French Open Champion Coco Gauff at the Helm

Days until National Bank Open: 39<h2>Diallo claims first ATP Tour title</h2>Canadian Gabriel Diallo kicked off the grass season with a bang, defeating Zizou Bergs 7-5, 7-6 (8) to <a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/news/pro-tennis/2025/diallo-wins-first-atp-tour-title-at-libema-open" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">win the Libema Open on Sunday</a> for the first ATP Tour title of his career.<figure class="media"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SLo8K5uB8Oc" style="visibility: visible;" width="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></figure>“Oh man, I don’t have the words. It’s something that you dream of for your whole life since you were a little kid, to get an ATP Tour title,” Diallo said in his post-match interview. “The fact that I was able to do it here after losing a final last year, it just means the world to me.  "I’m very happy, not only for myself but for my whole team.”The 23-year-old is now the No. 44-ranked player in the world, a new career high after an 11-spot jump following Sunday’s victory.Read Also: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2025/definitely-circled-week-calendar-gabriel-diallo-looking-forward-toronto-return-national-bank-open" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“Definitely circled that week in the calendar,” Gabriel Diallo looking forward to Toronto return for NBO</a><h2>Fritz gets back on track</h2>American Taylor Fritz captured his ninth ATP Tour title on Sunday, defeating Alexander Zverev 6-3, 7-6(0) at the BOSS Open in Stuttgart.It was the first title of the season for Fritz, who jumped three spots and returned to No. 4 in the ATP rankings following the victory.  <figure class="media"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gBgq7YWhfKI" style="visibility: visible;" width="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></figure>The 27-year-old struggled to gain his footing during the clay season, suffering a first-round loss at Roland-Garros and failing to win more than two matches at any of the four clay tournaments he entered."It was not so great a clay season, so to come here and start the grass season off perfectly, I am super happy to get the title and to do it here," Fritz said.<h2>Coming Up on Tour</h2><h4>ATP 500 - London</h4>The HSBC Championships began Monday in London at the Queen’s Club.Reigning Roland-Garros champion Carlos Alcaraz is the No. 1 seed and gets his grass season started against fellow Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.  Jack Draper, who enters as the No. 2 seed, will have his home crowd behind him as he looks for his second title of the season.  <figure class="media"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vpmUwIyfgYo" style="visibility: visible;" width="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></figure>Fritz, Holger Rune, and Alex de Minaur round out the top five seeds, respectively.  Gabriel Diallo is on the court today against Billy Harris in the first round, with a potential second-round matchup against de Minaur looming.Read Also: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2025/alcaraz-sinner-lead-new-chapter-tennis-greatest-rivalries" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Alcaraz, Sinner lead new chapter in tennis’ greatest rivalries</a><h4>ATP - 500 Halle</h4>The Terra Wortmann Open also began this week in Halle, Germany, as the tour’s grass season gets into full swing.Jannik Sinner is the No. 1 seed, looking for his second title of the season. The world No. 1 is coming off a hard-fought loss to Carlos Alcaraz in a historic final at Roland-Garros.Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, and Francisco Cerundolo round out the top five seeds.<figure class="media"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/11gMjCQU3Gw" style="visibility: visible;" width="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></figure>Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime enters coming off a semifinal loss to Fritz in Stuttgart. He saw his rank rise two spots to No. 27 with the effort. He will battle qualifier Laslo Djere in the first round.Fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov defeated sixth-seeded Ugo Humbert in the first round. He is coming off an opening-round loss to Arthur Rinderknech in Stuttgart.Read Also: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2025/nbo-focus-alcaraz-defends-roland-garros-title" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Alcaraz defends Roland-Garros title</a><h2>All winners from last week:</h2>ATP 250 - 's-Hertogenbosch●    Men’s Singles: Gabriel Diallo* (1/1) d. Zizou Bergs●    Men’s Doubles: Matthew Ebden/Jordan Thompson d. Julian Cash/Lloyd GlasspoolATP 250 - Stuttgart●    Men’s Singles: Taylor Fritz* (1/9) d. Alexander Zverev  ●    Men’s Doubles: Santiago Gonzalez/AustinKrajicek d. Rajeev Ram/Alex Michelsen* 2025 Titles/Career Titles <h2>Read also: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2025/whos-expected-play-2025-national-bank-open" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Who's expected to play the 2025 National Bank Open?</a></h2>The <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2025/whos-expected-play-2025-national-bank-open" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ATP's best</a> return to Toronto this summer for the National Bank Open presented by Rogers July 26 to Aug. 7, 2025 at Sobeys Stadium. 2025 Tickets are on sale. <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/toronto/toronto-tickets-packages" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Get your tickets today</a>!Feature Photo : Libéma Open/Edwin Verhoef

NBO in Focus Toronto

NBO In Focus: Diallo wins first ATP Tour title

The Serbian-turned-American won nine Grand Slam singles titles and was ranked No. 1 for 178 weeks, the sixth most all-time.  Eight of her majors came before she turned 20. From the 1990 French Open through the 1993 Australian Open, she won eight of the 11 Grand Slam events she entered, while also reaching the final at Wimbledon in 1992. From 1990 through April 1993, she went 215-19.Given how dominant she was at such a young age, it is easy to assume that Seles would have re-written the record books. But we will never know just how much she could have accomplished.On April 30, 1993, Seles was the victim of the most infamous moment in tennis history. Most tennis fans, and even lots of casual sports fans, probably already know the story. During a match in Hamburg, Seles was stabbed by a deranged fan during a changeover. The 19-year-old would not play another sanctioned match for over two years.<figure class="media"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4K9jUpNlzXw" style="visibility: visible;" width="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></figure>2025 marks the 30-year anniversary of Seles’ return to the WTA Tour, which took place in Toronto. And what a comeback it was. Let’s revisit Monica Seles spectacular return to tennis at the 1995 National Bank Open.Seles came into the tournament in a strange position, as the joint No. 1 player and top seed. At the time of the stabbing, the then-Serbian had held the top stop in the rankings and while they did not freeze her ranking at the time, the decision was made to re-institute the now-American as a joint world No. 1 with Steffi Graf when she returned to the tour in August 1995.Read also: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2025/alcaraz-sinner-lead-new-chapter-tennis-greatest-rivalries" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Alcaraz, Sinner lead new chapter in tennis’ greatest rivalries</a>With two No. 1 seeds, Seles was placed at the bottom of the draw in spot traditionally occupied by the No. 2 seed. With the way the draw ultimately unfolded, it did not make a huge difference for Seles as the seeds largely held and being in the top or bottom half of the draw would have been similarly challenging. Graf may disagree, though, as she lost her opening match to Amanda Coetzer.  In an interesting twist, Seles ultimately ended up meeting the same player who would have been her first opponent, Coetzer, had she occupied the top line in the draw.  <figure class="media"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w1PMZok605Q" style="visibility: visible;" width="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></figure>Instead, Seles played her first competitive match in two years and three months against lucky loser Kimberly Po. Despite the layoff, the eight-time major champion did not look like she missed a beat, claiming the opening set 6-0 on her way to a routine straight-set win.Coming back at a smaller tournament may have made more sense in theory after such a long time away. By returning in Canada, a Tier I WTA event, Seles was facing off with the best of the best and there would no easing back in.  In theory.In round three, she faced 12th seed Natalie Tauziat and put away the Frenchwoman 6-2, 6-2. Next up was an even bigger test in the form of world No. 10 Anke Huber. Seles passed with flying colours, advancing to the semifinals with a 6-3, 6-2 win.Read also: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2025/destination-nbo-stm-gauff-caps-off-clay-season-roland-garros-title" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gauff caps off clay season with Roland-Garros title</a>Things should have gotten even tougher in the semis against world No. 8 Gabriela Sabatini, who had just reached the quarter-finals of Roland-Garros and Wimbledon. Instead, Seles got even better, demolishing the former US Open champion with the loss of just a single game.<figure class="media"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s4I2WFBMOR4" style="visibility: visible;" width="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></figure>Just like that, after over two years away from the tour, Seles was back in a final. Across the net stood Coetzer, who backed up her shocking second-round win over Graf with two more wins over Top 5 seeds to reach what was the biggest final of her career to-date.  One win over a world No. 1 was impressive, but Seles was not interested in letting Coetzer get a second in the same tournament. The American dominated the final, winning 6-0, 6-1 to complete the dream comeback. It was her 33rd career title and first since February 1993.Read also: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2025/definitely-circled-week-calendar-gabriel-diallo-looking-forward-toronto-return-national-bank-open" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“Definitely circled that week in the calendar,” Gabriel Diallo looking forward to Toronto return for National Bank Open</a>She lost a mere 14 games in the tournament. That still stands as a record for fewest games lost in a title run at the National Bank Open and, given <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2025/the-ultimate-ticket-guide-2025-nbo-redefined-experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the 2025 expansion of the tournament</a>, is unlikely to ever be broken.Seles went on to reach the US Open final a few weeks later but lost in three sets to Graf.In January of the following year, Seles was a champion again, defeating Huber to win her ninth Grand Slam singles title, and first since the stabbing, at the 1996 Australian Open. It was Seles first major since winning in Melbourne three years earlier, three months before Hamburg.<figure class="media"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gkGpn81sLN0" style="visibility: visible;" width="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></figure>Despite her incredible return to the sport in the summer of 1995 and major triumph in 1996, Seles was never able to re-establish herself as the dominant force she had been in the early 1990s before the stabbing.  Her victory at the 1996 Australian Open was her last Grand Slam title. She reached two more finals but lost them both, at the 1996 US Open again to Graf and at the 1998 French Open to Arantxa Sanchez Vicario.  Read also: <a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/news/change-the-game/2025/laura-stacey-and-marinette-pichon-revealed-as-panelists-for-montreals-inaugural-unmatched-gender-equity-in-sports-conference" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Laura Stacey and Marinette Pichon Revealed as Panelists for Montreal’s Inaugural UNMATCHED Gender Equity in Sports Conference</a>She and Graf jointly held the No. 1 ranking from Seles’ return on Aug. 15, 1995 until Nov. 3, 1996, and again for a week from Nov. 18 to 24, 1996, but Seles never held the top spot solo again after April 1993.  However, Canada remained Seles’ personal playground for the rest of the decade. Her 1995 victory kicked off a run of four consecutive titles at the National Bank Open. She nearly made it five when she reached the 1999 final but Martina Hingis managed to put an end to her domination.Overall, Seles reached the final in her first six appearances in Canada, having made the final in 1992, her lone pre-layoff appearance, and never failed to reach the semis in her seven total trips to the Great White North. She is the only player in the Open Era, male or female, to win in Canada four consecutive years and her four titles are tied with Chris Evert for the most women’s singles titles at the event since 1968. The WTA's best return to Montreal this summer for the National Bank Open presented by Rogers July 26 to Aug. 7, 2025 at IGA Stadium. 2025 Tickets are on sale. <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/montreal/montreal-tickets-packages" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Get your tickets today!</a>Feature Photo: Richard Lautens/Toronto Star

Tournament Throwback

Comeback Queen: Revisiting Monica Seles’ Dramatic 1995 Return to Tennis in Toronto

Having previously met three times at a Grand Slam, their fourth meeting was undoubtedly the grandest. It was the first time Alcaraz and Sinner had met in a major final.Dating back to their first-ever clash back in the 2019 Alicante Challenger first round, the Spaniard has gotten the better of Sinner on clay, having lost just once in their four matches on the dirt. Read Also: <a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/news/change-the-game/2025/alexis-galarneau-seeking-for-help-is-a-strength-not-a-flaw" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Alexis Galarneau - “Seeking for help is a strength, not a flaw”</a>Then came Sunday’s French Open final. Seeking revenge after a straight-set loss to Alcaraz in the Rome final last month, the Italian looked to have cracked the code against the man who many are calling the next King of Clay.The world No. 1 took the opening two sets and had three chances to close it out in the fourth. However, Alcaraz saved all three championship points, sparking one of the greatest comebacks in tennis history. The 22-year-old Spaniard won two-straight tiebreaks and celebrated by laying on the red clay with face in hands. A distraught Sinner looked on as <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2025/nbo-focus-alcaraz-defends-roland-garros-title" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Alcaraz successfully defended his Roland-Garros title</a>, becoming the first to do so since Nadal in 2020. <figure class="media"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kSHUXVqZc1w" style="visibility: visible;" width="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></figure>Few would argue against this being the greatest French Open final of all time as the match was a true testament of how captivating this young rivalry is.Alcaraz and Sinner battled for five hours and 29 minutes, the second-longest Grand Slam final in the Open Era and the longest at Roland-Garros. The rivals combined for a major final-record 385 points, only separated by one point in favour of the Italian.Read Also: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2025/destination-obn-stm-gauff-caps-off-clay-season-roland-garros-title" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gauff caps off clay season with Roland-Garros title</a>Not many summed up the duel better than 20-time Grand Slam champion Federer, who took to Instagram after the match to say, “3 winners in Paris today: Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and the beautiful game of tennis.”Safe to say, the future of tennis is in good hands.Now, as the grass season begins, Sinner and Alcaraz have the opportunity to renew their rivalry on the surface where they first met on the major stage. The Italian defeated the Spaniard in four sets back in the 2022 Wimbledon fourth round – Alcaraz’s last lost at the All-England Club – which happens to be Sinner’s only Grand Slam win against the El Palmar-native.  <figure class="media"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FOCHjQbU3kw" style="visibility: visible;" width="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></figure>And the stakes for a potential final at Wimbledon may be just as significant as they were for that marathon final at Roland-Garros.For Alcaraz, it is a chance to make history once again, looking to join Djokovic, Federer, Pete Sampras, and Bjorn Borg as the only three-time defending champions at Wimbledon in the Open Era.As for Sinner, a win would snap a five-match losing skid against the world No. 2 and a fourth Grand Slam triumph will get him one major title closer to Alcaraz’s five.Read Also: <a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/news/pro-tennis/2025/monday-digest-busy-start-to-the-grass-season-for-canadians" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Busy Start to the Grass Season for Canadians</a>But, as the saying goes, iron sharpens iron. The two rivals have combined for the last six Grand Slam wins and currently occupy the Top 2 spots in the rankings. While Sinner and Alcaraz compete for the year-end No. 1, the New Two continue to fill the shoes of the renowned Big Three.  The ATP's best return to Toronto this summer for the National Bank Open presented by Rogers July 27 to Aug. 7, 2025 at Sobeys Stadium. 2025 Tickets are on sale. <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/toronto/toronto-tickets-packages" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Get your tickets today!</a>Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak

Features

Alcaraz, Sinner lead new chapter in tennis’ greatest rivalries

Days until National Bank Open: 46<h3>Queen of Clay dethroned </h3>After 26 straight wins at Roland-Garros, three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek’s reign came to an end. But if anyone was to kick the Pole off her throne, it had to be Aryna Sabalenka.The world No. 1 defeated Swiatek to reach the French Open final for the first time, but she lost to world No. 2 Coco Gauff.<figure class="media"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UgBBebbFwSI" style="visibility: visible;" width="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></figure>Now, can the American begin a reign of her own at Roland-Garros?Gauff had quite the clay season, finishing as runner-up in both Madrid and Rome before becoming the first American winner at Roland-Garros since Serena Williams won her third title a decade ago. Still just 21-years-old, it’s safe to say this won’t be the last time Gauff hoists the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen.<h3>A Grand Slam debut to remember</h3>Loïs Boisson. A name to become familiar with after the Frenchwoman’s remarkable maiden Grand Slam main draw performance.The 22-year-old wildcard became the first woman to reach a Grand Slam semifinal in her debut since former world No. 1 Jennifer Capriati did so at the 1990 French Open. Boisson’s historic run featured shock victories over world No. 3 Jessica Pegula and world No. 6 Mirra Andreeva en route to her semifinal loss to Gauff.<figure class="media"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ikPrkpjAW38" style="visibility: visible;" width="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></figure>The Dijon-native climbed 296 spots to 65th in the rankings after Roland-Garros, becoming the French No. 1.Canadian Victoria Mboko also had quite the Grand Slam main draw debut. Including qualifiers, the 18-year-old from Toronto didn’t drop a set in five-straight matches until her eventual <a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/news/pro-tennis/2025/mbokos-breakout-run-ends-against-zheng-in-roland-garros-round-three" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">third-round loss to world No. 7 Qinwen Zheng</a>.Mboko also joins Boisson as a Top-100 newcomer, jumping to 91st.<h3>The grass begins to grow</h3>With the conclusion of Roland-Garros comes the beginning of the grass season. For the first time in 52 years, the prestigious Queen’s Club in London will host a women’s event with Zheng coming in as the top seed.Read Also: <a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/news/pro-tennis/2025/monday-digest-busy-start-to-the-grass-season-for-canadians" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Busy Start to the Grass Season for Canadians</a>Among the field is world No. 11 Elena Rybakina, who has looked impressive at Wimbledon in recent years. The Kazakhstani has reached at least the quarter-final in three straight years, including winning the tournament in 2022.Defending Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova will also be at the Queen’s Club, sitting one seed below fellow countrywoman Karolina Muchova. <figure class="media"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8FvC0efZ5QI" style="visibility: visible;" width="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></figure>Czech players have had some success at the All-England Club, winning the last two ladies’ singles titles. Czech No. 1 Muchova would be the favourite to complete the trifecta.<h3>All winners from last week:</h3>Roland-Garros<ul><li>Women’s Singles: Coco Gauff* (1/10) d. Aryna Sabalenka</li><li>Women’s Doubles: Jasmine Paolini/Sara Errani d. Aleksandra Krunic/Anna Danilina</li></ul>*(2025 titles/career titles)The WTA's best return to Montreal this summer for the National Bank Open presented by Rogers July 26 to Aug. 7, 2025 at IGA Stadium. 2025 Tickets are on sale. <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/montreal/montreal-tickets-packages" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Get your tickets today!</a>Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak

Destination NBO by STM: Gauff caps off clay season with Roland-Garros title

Days until National Bank Open: 46<h2>Alcaraz wins historic final at Roland-Garros</h2>On Sunday, Carlos Alcaraz successfully defended his title at Roland-Garros in dramatic fashion.After dropping the first two sets, Alcaraz roared back to beat Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2) to win in Paris for the second-straight year.<figure class="media"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OnN6eWAWWYA" style="visibility: visible;" width="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></figure>Down 5-3 in the third set, the champion fended off three match points to put momentum back on his side. Alcaraz became the third man in the Open Era to save at least one championship point en route to winning a Grand Slam. He is also the ninth man to rally from two sets down to win a major final.In the end, the five-set classic was the longest Roland-Garros final of the Open Era at 5 hours and 29 minutes. It was the first Roland-Garros final ever decided by a fifth-set tiebreak.The match was also the second-longest Grand Slam final ever, behind the 5 hour and 53-minute marathon between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal at the 2012 Australian Open.<figure class="media"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1ZwO7dz3iDE" style="visibility: visible;" width="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></figure>With the win, the 22-year-old claims his 20th title and fifth Grand Slam championship of his career.It's the first time in his career that Sinner has lost a Grand Slam final, and the fifth consecutive time that he has lost to Alcaraz.Read Also: <a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/news/change-the-game/2025/alexis-galarneau-seeking-for-help-is-a-strength-not-a-flaw" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Alexis Galarneau: “Seeking for help is a strength, not a flaw”</a><h2>Coming up on tour</h2>ATP 250 - StuttgartThe Boss Open begins Monday in Stuttgart, Germany.Alexander Zverev is the tournament’s top seed, while American Taylor Fritz enters as the No. 2.Canadians Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov are two of the seeds in the tournament.<figure class="media"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dN93HF6qr1s" style="visibility: visible;" width="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></figure>Auger-Aliassime is the fourth seed and will receive a bye to the round of 16. He is looking to bounce back after giving up a two-set lead in <a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/news/pro-tennis/2025/auger-aliassime-eliminated-in-roland-garros-first-round-after-two-set-lead-disappears" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">his first-round loss to Matteo Arnaldi</a> at Roland-Garros.Shapovalov is the tournament's fifth seed and will take on Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech in the first round. <a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/news/pro-tennis/2025/2025-french-open-monday-diallo-shapovalov" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Shapovalov reached the second round</a> at Roland-Garros but <a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/news/pro-tennis/2025/2025-roland-garros-thursday-diallo-shapovalov" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">lost to Filip Misolic in a five-set thriller</a> after dropping the first two sets.American Ben Shelton rounds out the top five seeds at the event.ATP 250 - 's-HertogenboschThe Libema Open is also set to begin on Monday.Former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev enters as the top seed, still searching for his first title of the season. Frenchman Ugo Humbert is the No. 2 seed, while Karen Khachanov, Alexei Popyrin, and Hubert Hurkacz round out the top five.<figure class="media"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pIRazygu9zc" style="visibility: visible;" width="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></figure>Canadian Gabriel Diallo will make his first appearance at the tournament and defeated No. 79 Aleksander Vukic in the first round on Monday. The Montreal native is coming off <a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/news/pro-tennis/2025/2025-french-open-monday-diallo-shapovalov" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">an impressive first round upset over Francisco Cerundolo</a> at Roland-Garros before <a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/news/pro-tennis/2025/2025-roland-garros-thursday-diallo-shapovalov">falling in the second round to Tallon Griekspoor</a>.Read Also: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2025/definitely-circled-week-calendar-gabriel-diallo-looking-forward-toronto-return-national-bank-open" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Diallo looking forward to Toronto return for National Bank Open</a><h2>All winners from last week:</h2>Roland-Garros●    Men’s Singles: Carlos Alcaraz* (1/20) d. Jannik Sinner ●    Men’s Doubles: Horacio Zeballos/Marcel Granollers d. Joe Salisbury/Neal SkupskiThe ATP's best return to Toronto this summer for the National Bank Open presented by Rogers July 26 to Aug. 7, 2025 at Sobeys Stadium. 2025 Tickets are on sale. <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/toronto/toronto-tickets-packages" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Get your tickets today</a>!Feature Photo : Martin Sidorjak

NBO in Focus: Alcaraz defends Roland-Garros title

The event will be bigger and better in more ways than one thanks to its <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/nbo-redefined" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">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" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Montreal</a> and <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/toronto/what-to-do-at-sobeys-stadium">Toronto</a>.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1454/1080;" src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_banner/New-Calendar-blue-en-2.webp" alt="" width="1200" height="1080" /></figure>*Dates, schedules, sessions, and programming are subject to change. 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 class="image"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/Playground-assets/_default/tennis-playground.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 <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/montreal/get-full-experience/montreal-activities?date=2025-07-26" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IGA Family Weekend</a> in association with LEGO in Montreal and the <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/toronto/get-full-experience/toronto-activities?date=2025-07-26" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">407 ETR Family Weekend</a> 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. In Toronto, admission is free while in Montreal, 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.In addition to plenty of kid-friendly attractions like face painting, mascots, cotton candy, and giant bubbles, both family weekends will also host the tournament’s always-popular ball hockey game (on Saturday in Montreal and on Sunday in Toronto) featuring several  of your favourite tennis stars going up against some  of hockey’s biggest names. Montreal will also welcome players from the Roses, the city’s new professional women’s soccer team to put their talent on display in a friendly game against the WTA.   <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/Playground-assets/_default/family-weekend-img-tor.webp" alt="" /></figure> Both family weekends will wrap up on Sunday, August 27 with a noteworthy slate of first round matchups on tap during the day and in the evening. Opening Night presented by Sobeys in Toronto and a special celebration recognizing the NBO’s 45th anniversary in Montreal will kick off the tournament in style and welcome fans into the Tennis Playground.<figure><a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/montreal/tickets-packages/montreals-family-experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12244630/IGA_Family_Weekend_Montreal_CTA.webp" alt="" width="432" height="101" /></a></figure><figure><a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/toronto/tickets-packages/torontos-family-experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12244629/407_ETR_Family_Weekend_CTA.webp" alt="" width="428" height="116" /></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.The tournament will also introduce new theme days meant to celebrate some of Tennis Canada’s grassroots initiatives. Community Day  (July 28) is meant to recognize and honour the individuals and organizations—ambassadors, builders, donors, partners, and more—who have helped shape tennis across Canada. Rogers First Set Day (July 29) will allow fans to discover Tennis Canada’s national program that introduces Canadian youth to tennis in a fun, welcoming, and positive environment. National Bank Day (July 31) will be dedicated to continuing to promote gender equity in tennis and highlight inspirational women in sport. On Monday, July 28, both <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/montreal/get-full-experience/montreal-activities?date=2025-07-28" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Montreal</a> and <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/toronto/get-full-experience/toronto-activities?date=2025-07-28" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Toronto</a> will host a Mental Health Panel as part of Tennis Canada’s mission to improve the well-being of all tennis players across Canada and to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all those who pick up a racquet. <figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/Playground-assets/_default/Opening-weekend-2images.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><a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/montreal/tickets-packages/montreal-single-session-tickets" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12244003/Montreal_Single_Session_Tickets_CTA.webp" alt="" width="432" height="101" /></a></figure><figure><a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/toronto/tickets-packages/toronto-single-session-tickets" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12244004/Toronto_Single_Session_Tickets.webp" alt="" width="432" height="117" /></a></figure><h3>TennisFest– Round of 16 (August 2 and 3)</h3>The second weekend at the NBO will be must-see for every tennis fan, from the avid followers to the newcomers, as the remaining 16 players in singles go head-to-head on Centre Court for a place in the quarter-finals over two days and four sessions.<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/Playground-assets/_default/Mid-week-2images.webp" alt="" /></figure> It promises to be a hot ticket, not only because of the must-see matches , but also because of the festival-like atmosphere around the grounds thanks to the plethora of activities on tap as part of TennisFest. This new thematic weekend will feature enhanced activations around three key pillars: accessibility and exploring the different ways to play tennis, entertainment, and gastronomy. This includes live music, DJ sets, a coffee party, oyster and all-day cocktail happy hours, ‘Paint &amp; Sip’ workshops, an introduction to wheelchair tennis, and much more.  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. Plus, fans will have the chance to show off their best vintage tennis outfits and travel back in time to remember iconic tennis moments from the past as part of Retro Night.Grounds passes to attend TennisFest are available for free in <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/montreal/get-full-experience/montreal-activities?date=2025-08-02" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Montreal</a>. <figure><a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/montreal/tickets-packages/montreal-multi-session-packages" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12244005/Montreal-Multi-Session-Packages.webp" alt="" width="433" height="101" /></a></figure><figure><a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/toronto/tickets-packages/toronto-multi-session-packages" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12244006/Toronto-Multi-Session-Packages.webp" alt="" width="432" height="117" /></a></figure><h3>Championship 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 class="image"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/Playground-assets/_default/Second-week-2images.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.Off the court, every night session during Championship Week will be brought to life with live music and unique sponsor activations thanks to Audi, Psycho Bunny, and Emirates (in <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/toronto/get-full-experience/toronto-activities?date=2025-08-04" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Toronto</a> only). In <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/montreal/tickets-packages/montreal-single-session-tickets?date=2025-08-07" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Montreal</a>, there will be an after-party on-site at the conclusion of singles and doubles finals. 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.   <h3>Stronger Together: UNMATCHED Gender Equity Conference is coming to the NBO</h3>Tennis Canada announced that not only will the fourth edition of the <a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/change-game/game-set-equity/unmatched-conference" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">UNMATCHED Gender Equity in Sports Conference</a> presented by National Bank be held on-site at the tournament in Toronto on Tuesday, August 5 prior to the quarter-finals, but the conference is also expanding to include a much-anticipated landmark event in Montreal on Wednesday, August 6 at IGA Stadium before the semi-finals are staged.Basketball legend <a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/profiles/dawn-staley" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dawn Staley</a> will be the keynote speaker in Toronto with more inspiring speakers and panelists  set to be unveiled for both cities in the coming weeks. Buy your tickets now for the conferences in <a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/change-game/game-set-equity/unmatched-conference/unmatched-montreal-2025" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Montreal</a> and <a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/change-game/game-set-equity/unmatched-conference/unmatched-toronto-2025" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Toronto</a>. Plus, <a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/change-game/game-set-equity/unmatched-conference/unmatched-sign-up" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">sign up</a> to receive information about the speaker lineup, event details as well as themes and topics.  <figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:600/600;" src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/news/_medium/12323826/Dawn-Staley.webp" alt="" width="600" height="600" /></figure><h3>Some Important NBO Dates to Remember:</h3>July 2 and 3: Player List announcements in Toronto and MontrealJuly 20: Road to NBO wildcard recipients announcedJuly 21: NBO top seeds announcedJuly 25 and 26: Official draw ceremonies in Toronto and MontrealJuly 26: Qualifying matches are contested in both citiesJuly 27: Main draw play begins, highlighted by an Opening Night ceremonyJuly 28: Community Day featuring a Mental Health PanelJuly 29: Rogers First Set DayJuly 31: National Bank Day August 2-3: TennisFest Weekend August 2: Retro Night August 4: Psycho Bunny Night August 5: Emirates Night (in Toronto only) August 6: Audi Night August 5 and 6: UNMATCHED Gender Equity Conference in Toronto and MontrealAugust 7: Singles and Doubles Finals (with after-party in Montreal only)<figure><a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/montreal/tickets-packages/montreal-full-event-packages" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12244007/Montreal_Full_Event_Packages_CTA.webp" alt="" width="433" height="101" /></a></figure><figure><a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/toronto/tickets-packages/toronto-full-event-packages" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12244008/Toronto_Full_Event_Packages.webp" alt="" width="432" height="117" /></a></figure><h3>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.</h3>Access all Montreal ticket options here &#x1f447; <figure><a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/montreal/montreal-tickets-packages" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/Playground-assets/_default/12287088/250304-NBO-Phase3-Campaign-600x250_obn_phase3_owned_email_header_v2_en.webp" alt="" /></a> </figure>Access all Toronto ticket options here &#x1f447;<figure><a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/toronto/toronto-tickets-packages" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/Playground-assets/_default/12287086/250304-NBO-Phase3-Campaign-600x250_nbo_phase3_owned_email_header_v2_en.webp" alt="" /></a></figure> DID YOU KNOW THAT THE NBO IS A TENNIS CANADA EVENT?By attending the tournament, you are <a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/donate/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">contributing to a brighter future for tennis in Canada.</a>

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Off Court

The Ultimate Ticket Guide to the 2025 NBO Redefined Experience

Entering the main draw as a wild card at the 2023 National Bank Open in Toronto, the Montreal-native had a chance to shine against then world. No 21 Daniel Evans in the first round.Only one year removed from his ATP debut in Montreal, Diallo stunned the 2023 Washington champion, earning the biggest win of his career up to that point. <figure class="media"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NqXTkyEfRRc" style="visibility: visible;" width="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></figure>The shock victory was Diallo’s first in an ATP main draw match, a career-defining moment for the Canadian which makes his return to Toronto this summer that much more significant.“That week, it’s always a special time for me,” Diallo told the media ahead of Roland-Garros. “[In Toronto] getting that first tour-level win and beating a player with the caliber of Dan Evans was very special.”Diallo lost in the following round in two tight sets against eventual runner-up Alex de Minaur, bowing out in front of a passionate home crowd.Read Also: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/news/read/2025/this-week-tennis-week-1-books-roland-garros" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">This Week in Tennis - Week 1 in the books at RG</a>“The atmosphere for both of my matches were cool. Really looking forward to [returning],” said Diallo.Fast forward to 2025, the 22-year-old’s expectations will be quite different heading into the Ontarian capital. Diallo has climbed nearly 100 spots up the ATP rankings since his maiden tour-level main draw win, reaching a career-high ranking of 53 just prior to the French Open. During his quest to crack the Top 50, the Canadian No. 3 also earned a career-best result at a big event, finishing as a <a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/news/pro-tennis/2025/diallo-upsets-dimitrov-to-reach-first-masters-1000-quarter-final-in-madrid" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">quarter-finalist at this year’s Madrid Open</a>.<figure class="media"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mSf4jehaZKA" style="visibility: visible;" width="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></figure>However, beyond his growing expectations, Diallo is just focused on the opportunity to play in front of a Canadian crowd once again.“To play at home, it's not something that we get a lot of as Canadians,” explained Diallo. “Maybe we get Davis Cup once or twice a year, so it's something that I don't take for granted. Definitely circled that week in the calendar.”Read Also: <a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/news/pro-tennis/2025/halifax-set-to-host-world-cup-of-tennis-as-team-canada-heads-to-east-coast-for-davis-cup-tie" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Halifax set to host World Cup of Tennis</a>The 2025 National Bank Open will be the second time Diallo has played on home soil this year. The Montreal-native played in his hometown in Canada’s Davis Cup tie against Hungary in January.The ATP's best return to Toronto this summer for the National Bank Open presented by Rogers July 27 to Aug. 7, 2025 at Sobeys Stadium. 2025 Tickets are on sale. <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/toronto/toronto-tickets-packages" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Get your tickets today!</a>Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak

“Definitely circled that week in the calendar,” Gabriel Diallo looking forward to Toronto return for National Bank Open

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Due to the tournament’s expansion to 12-days, as we join an elite group of events on the ATP and WTA Tour, our new status not only means we’ll have more players (96 versus 56 in previous years), but it also means the NBO is mandatory for the top players. Therefore, barring injury or another unforeseen circumstance, all the top 75-ranked players on both tours are automatically entered.That’s right… From World No. 1, 2023 NBO and three-time Grand Slam champion Jannik Sinner, five-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz, and Canadian Davis Cup champions Felix Auger-Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov and Gabriel Diallo on the ATP Tour, to World No. 1 and three-time Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenka, 2025 French Open champion Coco Gauff, five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek, 2023 and 2024 NBO champion Jessica Pegula, and Canadian Billie Jean King Cup champion Leylah Annie Fernandez on the WTA, they are ALL expected to feature in Toronto and Montreal respectively.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1920/1280;" src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/_default/12338919/Aryna-Sabalenka-Coco-Gauff-2025-Roland-Garros-Martin-Sidorjak.webp" alt="" width="1200" height="1200" /><figcaption>Photo : Martin Sidorjak</figcaption></figure>So, if the event were to begin on June 23, our star-studded player list would look like this based on the June 16 rankings:<h2>ATP Toronto:</h2><ol><li>Jannik Sinner (ITA)</li><li>Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)</li><li>Alexander Zverev (GER)</li><li>Taylor Fritz (USA)</li><li>Novak Djokovic (SRB)</li><li>Jack Draper (GBR)</li><li>Lorenzo Musetti (ITA)</li><li>Tommy Paul (USA)</li><li>Holger Rune (DEN)</li><li>Ben Shelton (USA)</li><li>Daniil Medvedev</li><li>Alex de Minaur (AUS)</li><li>Frances Tiafoe (USA)</li><li>Andrey Rublev</li><li>Arthur Fils (FRA)</li><li>Casper Ruud (NOR)</li><li>Jakub Mensik (CZE)</li><li>Francisco Cerundolo (ARG)</li><li>Grigor Dimitrov (BUL)</li><li>Ugo Humbert (FRA)</li><li>Alexei Popyrin (AUS)</li><li>Karen Khachanov</li><li>Tomas Machac (CZE)</li><li>Flavio Cobolli (ITA)</li><li>Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)</li><li>Sebastian Korda (USA)</li><li><a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/profiles/felix-auger-aliassime" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Felix Auger-Aliassime</a> (&#x1f341; CAN)</li><li>Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP)</li><li>Hubert Hurkacz (POL)</li><li>Jiri Lehecka (CZE)</li><li><a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/profiles/denis-shapovalov" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Denis Shapovalov</a> (&#x1f341; CAN)</li><li>Brandon Nakashima (USA)</li><li>Alex Michelsen (USA)</li><li>Matteo Berrettini (ITA)</li><li>Tallon Griekspoor (NED)</li><li>Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (FRA)</li><li>Jordan Thompson (AUS)</li><li>Nuno Borges (POR)</li><li>Sebastian Baez (ARG)</li><li>Alexandre Muller (FRA)</li><li>Matteo Arnaldi (ITA)</li><li>Gael Monfils (FRA)</li><li>Marcos Giron (USA)</li><li><a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/profiles/gabriel-diallo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gabriel Diallo</a> (&#x1f341; CAN)</li><li>Alexander Bublik (KAZ)</li><li>Lorenzo Sonego (ITA)</li><li>Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB)</li><li>Quentin Halys (FRA)</li><li>Zizou Bergs (BEL)</li><li>David Goffin (BEL)</li><li>Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP)</li><li>Daniel Altmaier (GER)</li><li>Camilo Ugo Carabelli (ARG)</li><li>Pedro Martinez (ESP)</li><li>Alejandro Tabilo (CHI)</li><li>Luciano Darderi (ITA)</li><li>Joao Fonseca (BRA)</li><li>Fabian Marozsan (HUN)</li><li>Jaume Munar (ESP)</li><li>Jacob Fearnley (GRB)</li><li>Cameron Norrie (GBR)</li><li>Benjamin Bonzi (FRA)</li><li>Tomas Martin Etcheverry (ARG)</li><li>Francisco Comesana (ARG)</li><li>Laslo Djere (SRB)</li><li>Kei Nishikori (JPN)</li><li>Learner Tien (USA)</li><li>Damir Dzumhur (BIH)</li><li>Yunchaokete Bu (CHN)</li><li>Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP)</li><li>Hamad Medjedovic (SRB)</li><li>Mattia Bellucci (ITA)</li><li>Roman Safiullin</li><li>Rinky Hijikata (AUS)</li><li>Reilly Opelka (USA)</li></ol><h2>WTA Montreal</h2><ol><li>Aryna Sabalenka</li><li>Coco Gauff (USA)</li><li>Jessica Pegula (USA)</li><li>Qinwen Zheng (CHN)</li><li>Jasmine Paolini (ITA)</li><li>Madison Keys (USA)</li><li>Mirra Andreeva</li><li>Iga Swiatek (POL)</li><li>Emma Navarro (USA)</li><li>Paula Badosa (ESP)</li><li>Elena Rybakina (KAZ)</li><li>Diana Shnaider</li><li>Amanda Anisimova (USA)</li><li>Elina Svitolina (UKR)</li><li>Karolina Muchova (CZE)</li><li>Daria Kasatkina (AUS)</li><li>Barbora Krejcikova (CZE)</li><li>Ekaterina Alexandrova</li><li>Jelena Ostapenko (LAT)</li><li>Liudmila Samsonova</li><li>Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA)</li><li>Donna Vekic (CRO)</li><li>Clara Tauson (DEN)</li><li>Elise Mertens (BEL)</li><li>Magdalena Frech (POL)</li><li>Marta Kostyuk (UKR)</li><li>Yulia Putintseva (KAZ)</li><li>Anna Kalinskaya</li><li>Sofia Kenin (USA)</li><li><a href="https://www.tenniscanada.com/profiles/leylah-annie-fernandez" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Leylah Annie Fernandez</a> (&#x1f341; CAN)</li><li>Magda Linette (POL)</li><li>Linda Noskova (CZE)</li><li>Ashlyn Krueger (USA)</li><li>Peyton Stearns (USA)</li><li>Belinda Bencic (SUI)</li><li>Emma Raducanu (GBR)</li><li>Olga Danilovic (SRB)</li><li>Rebecca Sramkova (SVK)</li><li>Katie Boulter (GBR)</li><li>Veronika Kudermetova</li><li>Anastasia Potapova</li><li>Mccartney Kessler (USA)</li><li>Tatjana Maria (GER)</li><li>Lulu Sun (NZL)</li><li>Marie Bouzkova (CZE)</li><li>Dayana Yastremska (UKR)</li><li>Alycia Parks (USA)</li><li>Elina Avanesyan (ARM)</li><li>Xinyu Wang (CHN)</li><li>Sonay Kartal (GBR)</li><li>Jaqueline Cristian (ROU)</li><li>Maya Joint (AUS)</li><li>Danielle Collins (USA)</li><li>Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova</li><li>Camila Osorio (COL)</li><li>Hailey Baptiste (USA)</li><li>Naomi Osaka (JPN)</li><li>Elena-Gabriela Ruse (ROU)</li><li>Lucia Bronzetti (ITA)</li><li>Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (ESP)</li><li>Ons Jabeur (TUN)</li><li>Eva Lys (GER)</li><li>Polina Kudermetova</li><li>Caroline Dolehide (USA)</li><li>Ann Li (USA)</li><li>Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS)</li><li>Lois Boisson (FRA)</li><li>Yuliia Starodubtseva (UKR)</li><li>Anna Bondar (HUN)</li><li>Suzan Lamens (NED)</li><li>Anna Blinkova</li><li>Greet Minnen (BEL)</li><li>Moyuka Uchijima (JPN)</li><li>Katerina Siniakova (CZE)</li><li>Renata Zarazua (MEX)</li></ol> Stay tuned to our channels to see our official player list when it is revealed the week of June 30. Click the links below for the current tour rankings:<ul><li><a href="https://www.atptour.com/en/rankings/singles" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ATP Rankings</a></li><li><a href="https://www.wtatennis.com/rankings/singles" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">WTA Rankings</a></li></ul> The top 32 seeds in each city will receive a first-round bye, meaning if you want to watch the absolute cream of the crop in action, your best chance is on Tuesday, July 29 or Wednesday, July 30. That said, there is no poor match at the NBO, with plenty of incredible players set to grace the Sobeys Stadium and IGA Stadium courts throughout the entire tournament.So, come and see the world-class tennis in Toronto and Montreal this summer at the National Bank Open from Saturday, July 26 to Thursday, August 7. Tickets are available here: <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/toronto/toronto-tickets-packages" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Toronto</a> | <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/montreal/montreal-tickets-packages" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Montreal</a>Be sure to also check out what’s happening across the grounds as the NBO becomes the Tennis Playground! Embodying a new identity this year, our tournament is being redefined beyond the court with plenty of exciting new initiatives for fans.That includes the return of <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/toronto/tickets-packages/torontos-family-experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">407 ETR Family Weekend</a> and <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/montreal/tickets-packages/montreals-family-experience" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IGA Family Weekend</a> in both cities, as well as federation-driven theme days during opening week, the introduction of <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/toronto/tickets-packages/tennisfest-weekend-toronto" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TennisFest Toronto</a> and <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/montreal/tickets-packages/tennisfest-weekend-montreal">TennisFest Montreal</a> both on August 2 and 3 and, the culmination of it all, Championship Week from August 4 to 7. Read more about the <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/nbo-redefined" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tennis Playground</a>.The ATP's best return to Toronto this summer for the National Bank Open presented by Rogers July 26 to Aug. 7, 2025 at Sobeys Stadium. 2025 Tickets are on sale. <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/toronto/toronto-tickets-packages" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Get your Toronto tickets today!</a><figure class="image"><a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/toronto/tickets-packages/toronto-single-session-tickets"><img style="aspect-ratio:600/250;" src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/Playground-assets/_default/12287086/250304-NBO-Phase3-Campaign-600x250_nbo_phase3_owned_email_header_v2_en.webp" alt="" width="600" height="250" /></a></figure>  The WTA's best return to Montreal this summer for the National Bank Open presented by Rogers July 26 to Aug. 7, 2025 at IGA Stadium. 2025 Tickets are on sale. <a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/montreal/montreal-tickets-packages" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Get your Montreal tickets today!</a><figure class="image"><a href="https://nationalbankopen.com/montreal/tickets-packages/montreal-single-session-tickets"><img style="aspect-ratio:600/250;" src="https://assets.nationalbankopen.com/production/Playground-assets/_default/12287088/250304-NBO-Phase3-Campaign-600x250_obn_phase3_owned_email_header_v2_en.webp" alt="" width="600" height="250" /></a></figure> Feature Photo : Martin Sidorjak

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“Definitely circled that week in the calendar,” Gabriel Diallo looking forward to Toronto return for National Bank Open

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