The National Bank Open reaches a decisive stage this weekend, with the men in Montreal and the women in Toronto fighting for quarterfinal spots. By Sunday night, the field will be cut to eight players in each draw, and the tournament picture should look much clearer.
That timing matters because both events have already produced surprises, momentum shifts, and a few major storylines that now center on a handful of favorites. Canadian interest also remains high, especially with Leylah Fernandez carrying the country’s final singles hopes.
What the Round of 16 Means for Both Cities
The round of 16 will be played on Saturday, August 8, and Sunday, August 9, 2026. Montreal and Toronto will each host four matches per day, and the winners will move into the quarterfinals on Monday, August 10, and Tuesday, August 11.
Center-court sessions begin at 12:30 p.m. in both cities, with Montreal’s evening session starting at 6 p.m. and Toronto’s evening session beginning at 7 p.m. The final order of play is usually released the day before each session, since weather, match length, and court scheduling can all affect timing.
- Montreal: IGA Stadium will host the men’s round of 16.
- Toronto: The women’s draw continues with the same knockout format.
- Schedule: Two days of play will decide the final eight in each event.
Montreal’s Men’s Draw Is Suddenly Open
The men’s bracket has been turned upside down by early exits from several of the biggest names. Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, and Andrey Rublev were all eliminated in their opening matches, while Félix Auger-Aliassime withdrew because of a back injury.
With six of the top 10 seeds already gone before the end of the second round, the path to the title looks far less predictable than expected. That has created an opening for players who would normally need a much longer list of upsets to reach the later rounds.
Ben Shelton remains one of the most obvious contenders. The defending champion opened with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Jenson Brooksby, and his serve-heavy, aggressive style fits the fast Montreal courts well.
Casper Ruud also enters the weekend with a strong case. The Norwegian handled Juan Manuel Cerúndolo 6-1, 6-2 in his first match and is comfortable enough on hard courts to take advantage of this kind of draw.
Players ready to Push Deeper
A number of younger names have already used the chaos to strengthen their own runs. Their results have not only added energy to the tournament, but also changed the range of possible outcomes in Montreal.
- João Fonseca: He delivered one of the week’s biggest wins by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in a competitive match.
- Arthur Fils: He defeated Zachary Svajda in three sets and has the athletic style needed for this surface.
- Tallon Griekspoor: He recovered from a first-set loss to upset Zverev 6-7, 6-2, 6-4.
Fonseca has the kind of power that can shorten points quickly, while Fils brings pace, movement, and confidence. Griekspoor’s comeback against the top seed may be especially important, since a win like that often changes how a player carries himself in the next round.
Toronto’s Top Women Have Held Firm
The women’s draw has been more orderly, with the leading names mostly advancing as expected. Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, and Mirra Andreeva all moved on to the third round and remain central figures in the title race.
Sabalenka is still the player everyone else is chasing. The world No. 1 opened with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Moyuka Uchijima, extending her hard-court winning streak to 13 matches, and her first-strike game is tailor-made for Toronto’s quick conditions.
Rybakina had a more demanding start, needing three sets to beat Daria Kasatkina 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. She ended the match with 58 winners and 58 unforced errors, which summed up her upside and risk in the same performance.
Coco Gauff began with a 6-2, 7-5 win over qualifier Kayla Day, leaning on her speed and defense when rallies became messy. Jessica Pegula also had to work, dropping the first set before recovering to beat Magdalena Frech 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 and reaffirming her comfort in Canada.
Mirra Andreeva may have produced the cleanest result of all, rolling past Karolina Pliskova 6-0, 6-2 in just 54 minutes. At 19, she already looks comfortable controlling pace and protecting her own service games, which makes her a serious threat on faster courts.
Fernandez Keeps Canada in the Picture
Leylah Fernandez remains the last Canadian left in either singles draw after defeating Renata Zarazúa 6-2, 6-2. She was efficient from the start, losing serve only once and breaking her opponent five times in front of the Toronto crowd.
Her next test is Elise Mertens, an experienced opponent who can stretch points and force patience. Fernandez will need to stay aggressive, take the ball early, and use her forehand to open the court if she wants to keep the home crowd invested a little longer.
For Canada, the situation is mixed. No Canadian man reached the round of 16, and Auger-Aliassime’s withdrawal removed one of the most anticipated storylines before it began. Fernandez now carries the spotlight almost by herself.
How Fans Can Follow the Action
Canadian viewers can watch the tournament on Sportsnet and TVA Sports, which are carrying matches from both Montreal and Toronto throughout the event. Their digital platforms also provide streaming access for fans who want to follow the action session by session.
Because the schedule can shift as matches run long or weather intervenes, checking the official order of play before each session is the safest way to stay updated. That matters most on a weekend like this, when several matches may have direct implications for the title race.
Why This Weekend Matters
The next two days should tell a major part of the National Bank Open story. Montreal has become wide open after the early exits of several seeds, while Toronto still features a cluster of elite women who are trying to separate themselves from the rest of the field.
Shelton and Ruud bring proven experience, but Fonseca, Fils, and Griekspoor have already shown that they can defeat higher-ranked opponents. In the women’s draw, Sabalenka, Rybakina, Pegula, Gauff, and Andreeva all remain dangerous enough to shape the final stretch of the tournament.
For fans in Canada, Fernandez is the clear focal point. If she can survive Mertens and keep advancing, she will preserve local interest in a tournament that has already seen many home hopes disappear.
