Over the years, the National Bank Open has produced several unforgettable moments in Canadian tennis. Vasek Pospisil was involved in a fair share of them.
From his tournament debut in 2010, the 2015 Wimbledon quarter-finalist has made 13 appearances across both the singles and doubles draws, with No. 14 in 2025 being his final one.
Pospisil announced that he will call it a career after the 2025 National Bank Open, getting a main-draw wildcard for his last dance. The 35-year-old’s sendoff will happen in Toronto, where the former world No. 25 made a memorable first appearance.
In 2010, Pospisil’s maiden National Bank Open main draw match was in doubles as the Vernon-native paired up with fellow Canuck Milos Raonic. The duo’s opening-match opponents – the then singles world No. 1 Rafael Nadal and world No. 2 Novak Djokovic.
After the all-Canadian team dropped the first set, it looked as if the ‘dream team’ of Djokovic and Nadal would cruise to a straight-set victory.
But, powered by the home crowd, Pospisil and Raonic kicked it into another gear.
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The Canadians broke once to take the second 6-3 and, heading into the match tiebreak, the National Bank Open rookies had the belief that they could stun two of the greats. Pospisil and Raonic did exactly that.
On match point, it was a Pospisil volley past Djokovic that sealed the upset victory as the then 20-year-old made his mark on Canadian tennis’ biggest stage.
The Canadian duo lost in the following round to No. 5 seeded team Jurgen Melzer and Phillipp Petzschner but, just three years later, Pospisil would shine in singles.
Eliminated in the second round in his first two National Bank Open singles main draw appearances, the Vernon-native broke through at his home tournament in 2013 in Montreal.
Pospisil’s opening match was a tough task against the year’s American No. 1, John Isner. After dropping the first set, the Canadian rallied and won the following two sets in tiebreaks to earn his first Top 20 win.
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The former world No. 25’s accolades then continued to grow as he defeated former world No. 8 Radek Stepanek in straight sets. Pospisil was through to his maiden Masters 1000 third round where he would face Czechia’s best, Tomas Berdych.
And it was yet another first for Pospisil. Once again faced with a third set tiebreaker, the Canuck managed to come out on top, stunning the former Wimbledon finalist for the first of his seven-career Top 10 victories.
In the quarter-final, Pospisil got the win over Nikolay Davydenko via retirement, setting up a semifinal clash with his 2010 National Bank Open doubles partner, Raonic.
Two of Canada’s best traded the opening two sets as Pospisil would need to win another third set tiebreaker to keep his breakout run in Montreal alive. But it was Raonic who recorded the victory, ending his fellow Canadian's remarkable run.
The semifinal finish was Pospisil’s only singles trip to the final four of a Masters 1000 event. Three years later, the Canadian would be back in a semifinal on home soil, but in doubles.
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Pairing with eight-time major winner Daniel Nestor, the all-Canadian duo came into Toronto in 2016 as the No. 6 seeds. Pospisil and Nestor received a first-round bye then won their opening match via retirement over Nick Kyrgios and Jack Sock.
Their quarter-final opponents would be familiar ones for Pospisil, up against the Czech pair of Stepanek and Berdych. The Canadians cruised by in straight sets to set up an intriguing semifinal matchup with No. 2 seeds Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares.
After two tight sets, a super tiebreak was needed as Pospisil looked to go through to his first final in Canada while Nestor had eyes on a second-straight National Bank Open final. Unfortunately for the Canucks, the duo would come up short 10-7.
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Fast forward to 2025, the Vernon-native will step foot on the courts in Toronto for the last time in his ATP career in what Pospisil, and Canadian fans alike, will hope is another memorable moment on home soil. But, when it’s all said and done, it is sure to be an emotional sendoff for a Canadian tennis trailblazer.
The ATP's best return to Toronto this summer for the National Bank Open presented by Rogers July 26 to Aug. 7, 2025 at Sobeys Stadium. 2025 Tickets are on sale. Get your tickets today!
Feature Photo: Tennis Canada
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