The 2025 National Bank Open presented by Rogers was an unforgettable event, from introducing the tournament’s redefined identity as The Tennis Playground to watching Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko crowned champion in Montreal, the history-making tournament was a highlight of the year for Tennis Canada.
Before we embark on a new year, let’s look back at the memorable 2025 edition.
Victoria Mboko completes meteoric rise to National Bank Open champion in Montreal
Amid her breakout season, Mboko reached star status at IGA Stadium. The then-18-year-old put together a sensational run at her home tournament, defeating Grand Slam champions Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina and Naomi Osaka to claim her first WTA title.
Mboko also became the first Canadian woman to win the singles title in Montreal and the youngest Canadian to take home the WTA 1000 title. After beginning the season ranked No. 350, the title propelled her into the top 25, and she would finish the season at No. 18 after winning a second WTA title in Hong Kong.
Ben Shelton confirms his place atop the ATP Tour in Toronto
Among the most exciting young players on the ATP Tour, 23-year-old Shelton achieved a career milestone in Toronto this summer when he claimed his first Masters 1000-level title, defeating Karen Khachanov in a three-set battle on Centre Court at Sobeys Stadium.
Shelton beat top-10 players Alex de Minaur and fellow American Taylor Fritz en route to the championship. The win made Shelton the youngest American ATP Masters 1000 champion since a 21-year-old Andy Roddick won the Miami title in 2004.
Overall, the tournament was a highly competitive event, with 15 of the 16 players in the round of 16 seeded, more than any other Masters 1000 event in 2025.
More Canadians compete at the National Bank Open
The unprecedented depth and development of Canadian tennis players were on display at home this year.
Along with Mboko, more Canadians than ever competed at the NBO in Toronto and Montreal. A record 23 Canadians were in the draw (12 women, 11 men), with 15 (eight women and seven men) receiving direct entry into the main draw.
Record crowds seen in Toronto and Montreal as tournament expands to 12 days
The NBO shattered attendance records as it rolled out its new 12-day, 96-player main draw format, confirming Canadians’ growing interest in tennis.
The nationwide buzz created by Mboko’s spectacular run drew large crowds in Montreal, but the tournament saw significant growth in both host cities thanks to its exceptional offerings for families, tennis lovers and casual fans alike.
The tournament brought back fan-first initiatives like the highly popular 407 ETR Family Weekend in association with LEGO in Toronto and the IGA Family Weekend in Montreal. New this year, TennisFest Weekend saw tournament goers experience a blend of elite tennis while enjoying a festival spirit throughout the grounds. Theme days like Rogers First Set Day and Retro Night, presented by Iris, also gave fans a unique on-site experience.
Overall, Toronto welcomed 217,531 fans — a 24 percent increase compared to 2023. In Montreal, 287,329 people passed through the stadium gates — a 21 percent increase. The combined attendance of both sites (504,860) set a record amongst all the 1000 combined events.
Gender equity initiatives continue to be a priority at NBO
In 2025, the NBO officially embarked on its path toward prize money parity. This year marked a significant step forward, with WTA prize money increasing to 56 percent of the ATP event, up from 32 percent previously. The gap will continue to narrow over the next two years, rising to 78 percent in 2026, and in 2027, both men and women will have equal prize money.
Meanwhile, under the theme Stronger Together, the UNMATCHED: Gender Equity in Sports Conference expanded in 2025. In addition to being held on-site at Sobeys Stadium for the first time in its four-year history, an inaugural Montreal edition was also hosted at IGA Stadium.
Both events featured a diverse lineup of panellists and two standout keynote speakers: University of South Carolina women’s basketball head coach and gender equity advocate Dawn Staley in Toronto, and trailblazer and NHL coach Jessica Campbell in Montreal.
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