We are entering the home stretch of the Road to the NBO, with the final Canadian professional events ahead of the 2025 National Bank Open taking place over the next three weeks.
A wildcard into the main draw of the National Bank Open is on the line for the Canadian player who accumulates the most points at the Canadian professional events, dating back to the fall of 2024. The tournaments taking place over the next month count double, which means there are still a lot of points up for grabs.
Heading into the final events, Liam Draxl and Kayla Cross are in the pole positions to claim the wildcards. Here are the current standings:
The men’s competition has a lot more room for movement, with three events taking place over the next three weeks. That is up to 350 points available for the players.
First up is the ITF M25 in Laval, QC, which will begin on June 30. Juan Carlos Aguilar, Alvin Tudorica, and Dan Martin all received direct entry into the event, with a handful more Canadians in the qualifying draw. 50 points are available to the champion in Laval. As such, none of the players competing in Laval can catch Draxl at that event alone. They will need to accumulate points at the subsequent ATP Challengers as well.
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The following week, starting on July 7, is the ATP Challenger event in Winnipeg, MB. Winnipeg is a 75-level challenger, which means 150 points are available to the champion.
Draxl is the only Canadian to appear on the initial main draw entry list that was released on June 24. While more Canadians could get in through qualifying or as wild cards, it puts Draxl in a very strong position to extend his lead in the race.
Finally, the last event on the Road to the NBO will take place in Granby, QC, beginning on July 14. Granby is also a 75-level Challenger so it is worth the same number of points as Winnipeg. The player list for Granby has not yet been released.
Were a Canadian man to win all three events, he would earn 350 points in the Road to the NBO.
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Kayla Cross is in a very strong position heading into the summer as there is only one Canadian professional women’s event left, the ITF W75 event in Granby. 150 points are available to the champion. Cross was the runner-up in Granby last summer.
While a title would clinch the wildcard for Cross, she could lock it up depending on other players’ results. As initially reported in March, here is how the results in Granby could affect the final Road to the NBO standings:
Only six women can catch Cross without winning the title: Rebecca Marino, Stacey Fung, Ariana Arseneault, Cadence Brace, Katherine Sebov, and Mia Kupres. That is assuming they all play in Granby. Marino and Fung need to at least reach the semifinals, while the other four all have to reach the final to even have a chance of catching Cross.
But that is without taking Cross’ result into account, as she controls her own fate, as much as a tennis player can at least, heading into the final event. The 19-year-old reached the Granby final last year and would clinch the wildcard by winning the title. If she reaches the final again, only Marino could snatch it away by winning the title. If Cross gets to the semifinals, she would eliminate everyone except Marino, Fung, Arseneault and Brace.
CLICK HERE for the latest standings in the Road to the NBO.
The National Bank Open gets underway on July 26.
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Feature Photo : Sarah-Jade Champagne
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