Q and A: NBO Montreal Tournament Director Valérie Tétreault on Keys, Halep, and Planning for a 12-Day Format

She addressed a wide range of topics including the new schedule and expanded draws coming in 2025, her early season WTA highlights, the arrival of two women’s professional sports teams to Montreal, Simona Halep’s retirement, and much more.

*The following interview has been edited purely for clarity and flow purposes.

Tennis Canada: Share your thoughts on the results so far this season on the WTA Tour

Valérie Tétreault: I think that, once again, there have been some really interesting matches that show just how much depth there is in the women’s game right now that we didn't necessarily have in some years. I always find it interesting to watch the Australian Open in particular, because it's a Grand Slam tournament, but it's also one that comes very early in the new season, and often that's when you start to understand the storylines to follow for the rest of the season. It's often a tournament where there are more surprises too. And speaking of surprises, if there's anyone who saw Madison Keys' title coming, my hat's off to them!

I think it's a great story to see someone who's been around for a long time, who's had success but from whom we probably expected more. I think it was almost unexpected for her, and you could feel it in all the emotions she was going through, but I find it inspiring to see a player like her who has continued to work hard and tell herself that it's never too late. And we can all agree that she didn't steal the trophy; she had a really tough draw.

So, it's been a great start to the season, with a number of players who have enjoyed success in recent years continuing to do well. With Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka, we have consistency at the top.

And I have to say that I am impressed with Belinda Bencic’s return from maternity leave. She went under the radar in Australian Open even though she was playing very well.

Tennis Canada: What are you most looking forward to about the new 2025 NBO redefined format?

Valérie Tétreault: I think it's a great vote of confidence for not only the tournament, but also the Montreal fans. Because a big part of the tournament's reputation comes from the support we get from the public. We've had record crowds for a one-week tournament, and I've always envied the Indian Wells and Miami tournaments with their longer format. 

READ: The Ultimate Ticket Guide to the 2025 NBO Redefined Experience

Over two weeks, there are even more stories to be told, more stories to follow, more exciting matches to watch. I think we’re part of an even more prestigious group of tournaments. Now we're going to have to play in the big leagues and compare ourselves with tournaments like Indian Wells, and I think that's a great challenge to take us to the next level.

Tennis Canada: Can you talk about the arrival of the Victoire (women's hockey) and the Roses (women's soccer) to Montreal and how their popularity will positively impact the return of the WTA to the NBO this summer?

Valérie Tétreault: You could see it as a threat that we're all ultimately competing for attention or media coverage, we're all competing to get people to buy tickets to come and watch the games, but in the end, I don't see it that way at all. It's the beginning of a movement. Tennis has always played a pioneering role in the world of women's sports and now it's good to see that there have been great victories, great progress for other sports, I think the need was there.

I've always said that for women's sports to have the place they deserve, it takes a collective effort. It's a bit like a wheel that turns, and in the end, I like to see it that way, in the sense that it's everyone's responsibility if we want women's sports to succeed. And at the same time, I have the impression, to be quite honest, that this is leading the WTA to question its positioning and to want to be a little more vocal in celebrating the victories of their past, the state of women's tennis today, and I think I see that positively too, because we've never stopped saying that we have to keep moving forward. I think everything that's happening just makes it possible for things to accelerate with the ultimate end goal of equality.

Tennis Canada: Take us behind the scenes with the organizing committee, what are you working on right now to get ready for the tournament? Anything fun you can share with us?

Valérie Tétreault: We've been preparing for this transition for several years, but now it's here! We need to think through the logistics of our operations to ensure, for example, that we have the right number of volunteers. One example among many.

SIGN UP NOW: Become a volunteer in Montreal 

But after that, on the strategic side of things, there's a lot to develop. We have a lot more sessions, so that comes with the challenge of attracting new customers, people who may have never come to the tournament before. So how do we attract them and make them want to experience the National Bank Open?

We want to make our mark. We want people, when they come to the NBO this summer, to feel that we've made this transition and that we're in a different place. We like to say that we want to redefine the tournament experience, and that requires a lot of heavy lifting. For example, the new format gives us a second weekend and we're working on what we want to offer that weekend. We'd like to provide some kind of free access to the site, so as to benefit as many people as possible. We're working with new caterers because we want to have a food offering that truly reflects the image of Montreal. As any self-respecting Montrealer knows, we like to eat well!

Tennis Canada: Can you touch on the early-season success of Canada's young players (including the likes of Cadence Brace, Carson Branstine, Kayla Cross, Victoria Mboko, and Marina Stakusic) at the pro level and the prospect of seeing them play in Montreal this year?

Valérie Tétreault: I remember when their group was here at the National Centre, we thought at the time that we had a great crop of six young girls who were doing well on the junior circuit, and it's nice to see in their transition to the pros, which was started by Marina Stakusic, that those prospects are still in the pipeline. That was always part of the mission and the challenge. When we started having success, we had to make sure that it wasn't an exception and that it was a cycle that kept on going.

I think the new tournament format gives our players more opportunities to play high-level matches, which will often give them a good benchmark for where they are in their development.

We're up to eight wildcards this year, which is huge, and for most of these young players, that will mean a chance to play in the main draw of a WTA 1000 tournament. It's an incredibly valuable experience.

Tennis Canada: Simona Halep recently announced her retirement. She's a three-time NBO champion with two of her titles coming in Montreal. What will you remember most about her and what kind of legacy has she left on the tournament?

Valérie Tétreault: I was impressed by her work ethic, she never cut corners. She was very demanding of herself, perhaps a little too much at times! She was a player who remained very charismatic, and when Simona Halep was at her best, she was a player I really enjoyed watching. Her tenacity on the court, her style of play. I think I identified a little with her, given that she was smaller in stature. I also think that she has become a role model for many players. In a way, what Justine Henin was able to create several years ago, we were able to find in Simona.

READ: Revisiting Simona Halep’s Three Titles at the National Bank Open

I think what was remarkable, and we experienced it here in Montreal, was how, no matter where she played, it felt like she was playing at home in Romania. A Simona match guaranteed a great atmosphere on your Centre Court.

When we had special requests, especially when it involved promoting tennis for kids, it was something close to her heart. She understood her role as an ambassador and was always accessible.

Don’t miss our next catch up with Valérie in the spring! And don’t miss your chance to witness the next chapter of the National Bank Open, get your tickets now.