Thursday marks National Bank Day at the NBO presented by Rogers. It’s a celebration of Tennis Canada’s Game. Set. Equity. commitment and the advancement of women and girls in tennis.
Plenty of women will take to the court at IGA Stadium, with a compelling slate of third round matches on tap.
Here are a few of the contests to watch out for, leading off with Canada’s very own Victoria Mboko.
Mboko vs. Bouzkova
Victoria Mboko found herself in unfamiliar territory on Tuesday. She was playing a night match and ended up finishing at around midnight after defeating Grand Slam winner Sofia Kenin.
“I think this is probably the latest match I've played in my life, so that's a new experience for me,” said Mboko, who got on late after Coco Gauff’s roughly three-hour win against Danielle Collins.
It’s been that kind of season for the 18-year-old from Toronto, filled with all sorts of (positive) firsts. You can bet it won’t be the last night contest she plays on a Centre Court.
Mboko moves smoothly while also packing a punch. Her opponent on Thursday, Marie Bouzkova, is one of the tour’s finest movers well known for taking part in long matches.
Bouzkova won a title at home in Prague last weekend, so like Mboko, has momentum.
Mboko’s ranking jumps inside the Top 80 when the rankings are next released and Bouzkova is now back inside the Top 40.
Gauff vs. Kudermetova
Gauff and the big-hitting Collins produced a thriller that had just about everything. Unfortunately for Gauff – the top seed – she chipped in 23 double faults in her opening match after a bye.
“I felt like I was practicing well and then I don't think I transferred it today, but hopefully I got my bad match of the tournament out of the way and I (can) come back stronger the next round,” Gauff said.
She has struggled with the serve in her career, delivering 21 double faults last year against Aryna Sabalenka in Wuhan and a combined 16 during a two-match losing streak entering Montreal.
Her next opponent, Veronika Kudermetova, possesses similar baseline power to Collins and is a former world no. 9.
Her ranking has dropped (currently no. 42) but Kudermetova enjoyed an uplifting Wimbledon, nabbing the doubles title with Elise Mertens.
She upset no. 29 seed Olga Danilovic in the second round and owns a win over Gauff, though the American leads their head-to-head 2-1.
Andreeva vs. Kessler
With her doubles finishing in the afternoon on Wednesday, Mirra Andreeva was looking good to catch Katy Perry in concert in Montreal on Wednesday night.
Despite the tournament heavily underway, the fourth seed has yet to see singles action. After a bye, Mississauga’s Bianca Andreescu withdrew from their second-round match with an ankle injury.
Another Canadian, Leylah Annie Fernandez, might have faced Andreeva but as it turned out, it will be Kessler, one of 10 Americans ranked inside the Top 50.
Twelve months ago, the former NCAA standout was ranked outside the Top 100. Three titles later, Kessler – in the doubles draw with Gauff – earned a seeding at Wimbledon 2025.
Andreeva flourishes on hard courts, though, winning back-to-back WTA 1000 events in Dubai and Indian Wells this year.
Both are playing at the NBO for the first time, and Thursday marks their first meeting.
Photo: Pascal Ratthé
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