The 2026 Canadian Open (National Bank Open) gets underway on Monday, August 3, with the first rounds of the main draw. The men's event takes place in Montreal (IGA Stadium) and the women's in Toronto (Sobeys Stadium) for this combined Masters 1000 that kicks off the final stretch before the US Open.
Montreal: a wide-open draw without the top three
The ATP draw is missing its three biggest names. Jannik Sinner, world number one and recent Wimbledon champion, has opted to skip the event to prepare for the Cincinnati Masters 1000 the following week. Carlos Alcaraz continues his injury recovery and Novak Djokovic is also absent from the entry list. Eight players in total have withdrawn, opening spots for alternates.
Alexander Zverev, the 2017 champion, takes the top seed and enters as the logical favorite. Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime, seeded second, will compete on home soil in front of his Montreal crowd in an ideal position to make a deep run. Alex de Minaur (third) and Daniil Medvedev (fourth) round out the top of the draw, with Ben Shelton seeded fifth. Shelton, the defending champion after capturing his maiden Masters 1000 title in Toronto last year, will look to retain his crown in Montreal.
Draper returns, Monfils takes a final bow
Two wildcards stand out. Jack Draper returns to competition after withdrawing from the DC Open last week. The Briton, whose 2026 season has been disrupted by injuries, will open against French left-hander Térence Atmane. The other headline invitation goes to Gaël Monfils, who has announced his retirement at the end of the season. The 39-year-old Frenchman will face Kamil Majchrzak in the first round in what will be his final appearance in Canada, a tournament where he reached the final in 2019. Canadians Gabriel Diallo, Liam Draxl, and Alexis Galarneau have also received wildcards to represent the home crowd.
Toronto: Sabalenka leads a WTA draw hit by withdrawals
The women's draw features a high-quality field despite notable absences. Aryna Sabalenka, the top seed, returns to competition on North American hard courts. Elena Rybakina (second), Jessica Pegula (third) and Coco Gauff (fourth) complete the top of the draw. Further down, Mirra Andreeva (fifth), Linda Noskova (sixth) and Iga Swiatek (seventh) provide a depth of talent rarely seen outside Grand Slam events. A potential Swiatek versus Pegula quarterfinal looms in the bottom half of the draw.
Withdrawals have nonetheless taken a toll on the field. Victoria Mboko, the defending champion and Canadian pride, pulled out with a knee injury sustained during the grass-court season. Jasmine Paolini is sidelined by a lingering foot injury, while Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova recently underwent surgery that ends her hard-court season. Emma Raducanu, still rehabilitating from her stress fracture, is also absent from the draw.
Alexandra Eala, should she perform well in the DC Open final on Sunday, could arrive in Toronto riding significant momentum and targeting a place inside the top 20.
Two decisive weeks before the US Open
The National Bank Open, followed by the Cincinnati Masters 1000 (August 10-17), represents the final major tune-up before the US Open beginning on August 30. For players seeking form and confidence on hard courts, these two weeks offer the best opportunity to sharpen their game before the season's final Grand Slam. The absence of Sinner and Alcaraz in Montreal could benefit the likes of Shelton, Taylor Fritz, or Auger-Aliassime, who have a chance to secure valuable ranking points before Flushing Meadows.
