Dabrowski Leads Canadian Doubles Field at… National Bank Open

Skip to main content directly

With doubles play at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers set to get underway on Wednesday, Canada will be well represented as the nation is led by Gabriela Dabrowski.

The 34-year-old from Ottawa is one of Canada’s most decorated doubles players. Just in competition where she is wearing her nation’s colours, the world No. 3 was part of the country’s historic Billie Jean King Cup title run in 2023 and won bronze in mixed doubles alongside Félix Auger-Aliassime at the 2024 Olympics. That’s just to add to her two US Open titles and WTA Finals triumph in 2024.

Dabrowski now makes her 14^th National Bank Open appearance, winning the event in 2021, as she continues her quest to be the world No. 1.

The Canadian has teamed with Luisa Stefani for the entirety of the 2026 season but, with the Brazilian nursing a slight injury, Dabrowski now must get acquainted with another partner ahead of her opening match in Toronto.

“For this tournament actually, I found someone yesterday. I've re-paired with Ekaterina Alexandrova. She’s someone that I've played against in doubles a bunch of times, but never with,” Dabrowski said in a press conference on Aug. 2 in Toronto. “I've always admired her game. She's one of those players that does consistently well year after year, singles and doubles. So, I'm really looking forward to it.”

Dabrowski and Alexandrova have met on two occasions this season – in Miami and Strasbourg – and now they team up for the National Bank Open, opening against one half of the defending champions Coco Gauff, who partners with Caty McNally this year. The winner of that clash has potential to meet top seeds Katerina Siniakova and Shuai Zhang in round two.

The women’s doubles draw will also feature two all-Canadian pairs. Kayla Cross and Bianca Andreescu reunite after teaming at the 2026 Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers in April, with Andreescu excited to play alongside her fellow Ontarian once again.

“I think [Cross] is a great plater and, above all, an amazing person,” Andreescu said in her post-match press conference on Monday. “I got to really know her during BJK Cup, and we played really well together. I would love for this to be a continuous thing.”

The Fernandez sisters – Leylah Annie and Bianca Jolie – are back on court together too, playing doubles for the first time since Montreal last year.

One wildcard team stole the headlines though. Venus Williams, a former world No. 1 and 14-time major champion in doubles, joins forces with the quick-rising Alexandra Eala, who just won her maiden WTA Tour singles title in Washington.

The duo is in the bottom half, which is led by No. 2 seeds Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunic, and will open against Miyu Kato and Liudmila Samsonova in Thursday’s night session.

The WTA's best return to Toronto for the National Bank Open presented by Rogers Aug 1 to 13 at Sobeys Stadium. Get your tickets today!

Feature Photo : Mike Lawrence/Wick Photography for National Bank Open