The moment Canadian tennis fans have been waiting for is almost here. On Tuesday, main draw play will get underway in Toronto at the National Bank Open.
It has been a particularly busy summer with the Olympic Games in Paris adding into the schedule. In fact, the tennis event is still going at Roland-Garros.
So, what can fans expect from the contenders in Toronto next week? That National Bank Open power rankings set the stage for Canada’s WTA 1000 event.
(Brackets indicate change in position since the last edition of the Power Rankings from before Wimbledon)
*Note: Inclusion in the Power Rankings does not guarantee player participation at the National Bank Open. The player list remains subject to change.
1. Iga Swiatek (+1)
- Actual Ranking: 1
- 2024 Record: 47-5
- Notable Recent Results: Olympics SF
- Best National Bank Open Result: SF (2023)
With her two biggest rivals facing questions around their health, Swiatek sort of falls into the top spot by default despite the tour shifting into what has historically been her least successful part of the season on the quick summer hard courts.
That’s not to say that the Pole does not deserve the top spot. She should arrive in North America full of confidence after getting to play an extra tournament at her favourite venue, Roland-Garros, and is still a former US Open champion after all.
- Pete
2. Aryna Sabalenka (-1)
- Actual Ranking: 3
- 2024 Record: 30-9
- Notable Recent Results: Berlin QF
- Best National Bank Open Result: SF (2021)
Though she missed out on the Olympics due to a shoulder injury, two-time Grand Slam winner Sabalenka should be well-rested and ready to go for the National Bank Open.
Read also: Meet the WTA Top 10
A fierce, ruthless competitor, the world No. 3 has won three of her five WTA 1000s titles on hard courts. With extra training on the surface compared to her fellow competitors, it positions her as a top contender for a first-ever trophy in Toronto.
- Ben
3. Coco Gauff (+1)
- Actual Ranking: 2
- 2024 Record: 35-11
- Notable Recent Results: Wimbledon R4
- Best National Bank Open Result: QF (Three times)
It was at this time last year that Gauff took a massive step forward in her development, reaching the final and winning at three of four events during the summer hard court swing, capping off the run with her maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open.
While she has yet to recapture that peak level in 2024, Gauff will hope that a return home will provide yet another spark like it did last year. She will look to channel those positive memories from a year ago, although it is worth noting that the one summer event where she didn’t win was Canada.
- Pete
4. Elena Rybakina (-1)
- Actual Ranking: 4
- 2024 Record: 40-8
- Notable Recent Results: Wimbledon SF
- Best National Bank Open Result: SF (2023)
When healthy, the argument could be made that Rybakina is the most dangerous player on tour, or at least the biggest threat to Swiatek, against whom she leads their head-to-head 4-2.
The problem is her health. Rybakina has an unfortunate streak of getting sick at the most inopportune times (if there is such a thing as “opportune”) including a bout of bronchitis which recently forced her out of the Olympics.
At least she will be rested when play gets underway in Toronto. Her big serve and smooth groundstrokes are well-suited to the fast hard courts where the rest of the year will be played.
- Pete
5. Jasmine Paolini (New)
- Actual Ranking: 5
- 2024 Record: 30-13
- Notable Recent Results: Wimbledon runner-up
- Best National Bank Open Result: R3 (2023)
The 28-year-old Paolini is likely going to be up for a few WTA awards at the conclusion of the season thanks to the incredible improvements she’s made this year. The Italian was ranked just inside the Top 50 this time last year but thanks to a title in Dubai and then back-to-back finals at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon, she’s now the No. 5 ranked player in the world.
Read also: Top Storylines to Watch at the 2024 National Bank Open in Toronto
Last year was Paolini’s first appearance at the National Bank Open and thus 2024 marks her first time playing the event in Toronto.
- Mike
6. Danielle Collins (+2)
- Actual Ranking: 9
- 2024 Record: 39-12
- Notable Recent Results: Wimbledon R4
- Best National Bank Open Result: QF (2023)
The last time the WTA’s best all came together at a hard-court tournament, Collins was the last woman standing, shocking the world with a victory at the Miami Open.
The soon-to-be-retired American had some good results on clay and a decent run at Wimbledon, but she will be happy to be back on hard courts, where she has had her most success, including her lone major final in Australia two years ago.
Collins will be playing in Toronto for just the second time but has played the last two Montreal editions of the National Bank Open, improving her result on each occasion.
- Pete
7. Qinwen Zheng (New)
- Actual Ranking: 7
- 2024 Record: 24-12
- Notable Recent Results: Palermo Champion
- Best National Bank Open Result: QF (2022)
For years, Zheng has been a player with high expectations. In 2024, she seems to be meeting them. She’s up to a career-best No. 7 in the rankings, has added her first Slam finals appearance in Melbourne, as well as titles in Zhengzhou and more recently in Palermo to her impressive resume.
Read also: Gender Equity Front and Centre at the 2024 National Bank Open
At only 21 years old, Zheng is truly one of the rising stars in tennis and will try to build on her quarter-final result from Toronto that she achieved back in 2022.
- Mike
8. Jessica Pegula (-2)
- Actual Ranking: 6
- 2024 Record: 20-9
- Notable Recent Results: Wimbledon R2
- Best National Bank Open Result: Champion (2023)
The defending National Bank Open champion will need to tap into those 2023 vibes when she returns to the Great White North with 1000 points to defend next week. Pegula has had a tough year with injuries, missing the entire European clay season, but showed some positives signs on the grass where she won her first title of the year in Berlin.
If Pegula is looking for a spark, where better than two hours from her hometown of Buffalo. The American has never failed to reach the semis in three main draw appearances at the NBO.
- Pete
9. Barbora Krejcikova (New)
- Actual Ranking: 10
- 2024 Record: 14-9
- Notable Recent Results: Wimbledon Champion
- Best National Bank Open Result: R1 (Twice)
Czechia’s Krejcikova heads into Canada this year with her name etched on the Wimbledon trophy, something she never thought possible. With her fluid groundstrokes and all-surface skill set, it’s fair to treat her as a threat to win any given tournament she plays.
Her title at the All England Club this year was a second career Grand Slam title in singles, adding to an already Hall of Fame career in doubles where she’s been a former world No. 1.
While she’s never been past the first round of the National Bank Open, the 28-year-old is buzzing with confidence as she prepares for action in Toronto.
- Ben
10. Donna Vekic (New)
- Actual Ranking: 21
- 2024 Record: 22-15
- Notable Recent Results: Wimbledon semifinal
- Best National Bank Open Result: R2 (three times)
Vekic has been a bit of a revelation this July, reaching her maiden Grand Slam semifinal at Wimbledon and backing it up with a run at the Olympics which included an upset of Coco Gauff.
Read also: Meet the Canadians and X-Factors
Now the Croatian will be looking to make an impact at the 1000 level. Despite having a Grand Slam semi and two quarter-finals to her name, she has never reached the last eight at a 1000 event.
She will be hoping that her good grass game (she also reached the Bad Homburg final before Wimbledon) will translate to the speedy hard courts.
- Pete
The National Bank Open Power Rankings are a group collaboration by the Power Rankings Panel which includes:
- Pete Borkowski – Content Editor, Tennis Canada
- Melissa Boyd – Content Writer, Tennis Canada
- Sarah-Jade Champagne – Content Specialist, Tennis Canada
- Edward Lee – Content Contributor, Tennis Canada
- Ben Lewis – Host, Match Point Canada
- Hugues Leger – Producer, Podcast Sur La Ligne
- Mike McIntyre – Host, Match Point Canada
- Abraham Santerre – Content Creator, Podcast Sur La Ligne
- Patrick Steski - Content Contributor, Tennis Canada
The WTA's best return to Toronto this summer for the National Bank Open August 4 to 12, 2024 at Sobeys Stadium. 2024 Tickets are on sale. Get your tickets today!
Feature Photo: Pascal Ratthe
