We’re less than a week away from the start of Canada’s biggest tennis event at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers in Toronto. The venue is ready to welcome tens of thousands of rabid fans to Sobeys Stadium to showcase the best that tennis has to offer.
To help set the stage for this world-class event, let's delve into a couple of top storylines to watch this year for those coming to catch the action live in Toronto as well as for those watching from the comfort of home.
The Return of Naomi Osaka
One big name returning to Toronto this summer is former World No. 1 and four-time Major champion Naomi Osaka. The 26-year-old has played in Toronto three times before, with her best result coming in 2019 when she reached the quarter-finals before falling to Serena Williams.
Osaka is currently ranked 100th on the WTA Tour but should see that rise in the coming months as she has no points to defend after missing the entire 2023 season while on maternity leave.
Now working hard to return to the level we’re accustomed to seeing from the heavy hitter, she’s accumulated a record of 16-13 on the season with highlights being the quarter-finals in Doha in February as well as pushing World No. 1 and Queen of the Clay Iga Swiatek to three sets at Roland-Garros in May. In that second-round encounter, Osaka had two match points that she couldn’t convert but sent a message that she’s ready to compete against the best in the game no matter the surface.
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During the grass court lead-up to Wimbledon, Osaka make the quarter-finals of the Libema Open in the Netherlands before falling to eventual finalist, Bianca Andreescu.
It remains to be seen where Osaka and others end up in the draw that will take place on Saturday August 3rd but you can bet that none of the other players want to see their names lined up next to hers.
Stakusic’s First Main Draw Appearance in her Hometown
Marina Stakusic is the third Canadian to receive a main draw NBO wildcard, along with Bianca Andreescu and Rebecca Marino. The 19-year-old has had quite the evolution as a professional player over the past twelve months, kick-started with her title at the Tevlin Challenger in Toronto last October and then followed by the integral role she played in helping Canada claim their first ever Billie Jean King Cup title.
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I spoke with Stakusic after the wildcard announcement and she was genuinely moved by the confidence Tennis Canada is showing in her.
“I’m honoured to have received a main draw wild card for the National Bank Open. I’m very grateful for the opportunity. I have many great memories coming to the tournament as a kid and I’m looking forward to playing at home in front of my family and the Canadian crowd.”
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Stakusic is nearing the Top 150 in the women’s game, which represents a career-best ranking. She recently qualified for the first time for the main draw of a major at Wimbledon and earlier in the year made the round of sixteen at a WTA event in San Diego, where she was defeated in three tight sets by Top 30 player Donna Vekic.
The future is bright for Stakusic and she’ll be looking forward to having the home crowd supporting her for this next big step forward in her pro career.
Stacked Qualifying Field
A WTA 1000 level tournament is always going to attract the top players in the world for the main draw, but let’s not forget the incredible depth that the qualifying draw can also boast.
Qualifying takes place on Sunday, Aug. 4 and Monday, Aug. 5 during the 407 ETR Family Weekend.
This year in Toronto, there is no shortage of talent with names like former French Open semifinalist Amanda Anisimova, “Ace Queen” and former No.1 player in the world Karolina Pliskova, as well as a trio of former Grand Slam champions in Sofia Kenin, Sloane Stephens and Toronto-born Brit Emma Raducanu.
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There will be plenty of Canadians in the qualifying draw as well, including the likes of 2014 Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard, recent NCAA Division 1 champion Carson Branstine with Texas A&M, as well as Katherine Sebov, who is currently the highest ranked of the three at No. 284.
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!
Feature Photo: Gyles Dias
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