Welcome to the Road to the National Bank Open. Every week, we will keep you updated on all the action on the WTA Tour as we build towards the National Bank Open in Toronto August 4-12!
We’re now less than three weeks away from action at the National Bank Open in Toronto, and with Wimbledon in the rearview mirror, athletes now make another surface change with sights set on the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Krejcikova emerges at the All England Club, Routliffe is world no. 1 in doubles
In one of the more surprising Grand Slam events in recent years, there was another first-time Wimbledon champion at the All England Club this past fortnight.
Veteran Czechian Barbora Krejcikova, a former major champion at Roland Garros in 2021, emerged from the field victorious, defeating Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in a tightly contested, intense three-set final. The 28-year-old, who’s been a world no. 1 in doubles and former no. 2 in singles, channeled her very best on the grass courts.
Big victories over Danielle Collins and Jelena Ostapenko propelled her through the second week before she tallied a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 upset win over Elena Rybakina in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, doubles has a new No. 1!
New-Zealand born Erin Routliffe, who grew up in Ontario, has claimed the world no. 1 doubles ranking for the first time in her career, after she and Ottawa native Gabriela Dabrowski delivered a runner-up finish at Wimbledon.
Read: Dabrowski makes Canada proud at Wimbledon
It was the second Grand Slam final from the pairing over the last year, as they claimed the US Open title last summer. The 29-year-old will team up with Dabrowski again at the National Bank Open this August.
This Week - Eyes are on action in Italy, Hungary
With the short grass-court campaign coming to a close, it’s another surface change for the WTA circuit. For competitors this week, it’s back to the clay courts with two 250 events – the Palermo Ladies Open in Italy and the Hungarian Grand prix in Budapest.
Australian Open finalist Qinwen Zheng highlights the singles field in Italy, as she holds the top seed at the event. The Chinese woman suffered a first round loss at Wimbledon but has shown good results on clay, reaching the quarterfinals of Rome in May.
See: Canada's BJK Cup Champs set to be honoured at NBO
Last year’s French Open finalist Karolina Muchova also returns to the red dirt, as the second seed at the tournament.
In Budapest, 20-year-old Diana Shnaider has the top seed as she hopes to continue her run of form this season. The youngest, who only made her Grand Slam debut last year at the Australian Open, has already cracked the top 30 of the rankings, and recently won her first career grass court title at the Bad Homburg Open in Germany.
Other names to watch in Budapest include former top 30 player Aliaksandra Sasnovich, veteran dirt baller Sara Sorribes Tormo, and two-time singles winner Bernarda Pera.
The WTA's best return to Toronto this summer for the National Bank Open August 4 to 12 at Sobeys Stadium. Tickets are on sale. Get your tickets today!
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