MONTREAL, June 28, 2019 (Tennis Canada Press Release)
This summer, the biggest names in tennis will be in Canada for the Rogers Cup presented by National Bank. The top players on the ATP Tour will compete to be crowned champion in Montreal while the best players in the WTA will face-off on the courts in Toronto.
Among the elite players coming to Montreal is World No. 1 Novak Djokovic who is returning for the first time since 2015, where he reached the final. Since coming back from injury, Djokovic has gone on to win three Grand Slam titles and climb all the way back up the rankings. He is expected to be joined by four-time Rogers Cup champion Rafael Nadal, the defending champion in Montreal, Alexander Zverev, and fan-favourite Roger Federer. Three Canadian players will gain direct access to the main draw, as Milos Raonic, Félix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov will try to capitalize on home-court advantage. This will be Auger-Aliassime’s first time competing at home in Montreal, as he was forced to withdraw in 2017 due to an injury.
“We are thrilled to be welcoming the best tennis talents to Montreal, including a number of our local players. The city has been buzzing with tennis more than ever as our Canadian players have had a standout first half of the season,” stated Eugène Lapierre, Tournament Director of the Rogers Cup in Montreal. “Our tournament has seen some breakout performances over the past few years, with a number of clashes between tour veterans and next generation players. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the tournament and it promises to be another one for the record books.”
On the women’s side, Toronto will play host to some exciting tennis. The winners on the WTA tour since the start of the year have been varied and multiple players have graced the top of the rankings. Among the athletes set to compete is new World No. 1 and French Open Champion Ashleigh Barty. She is joined by a number of rising young guns, including two-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka and 2015 Rogers Cup champion Belinda Bencic. Bianca Andreescu, currently the lone Canadian in the main draw, will be looking to build off her strong start to the year, which saw her win the title at Indian Wells and break into the Top 30.
“We are excited to announce the strongest player field in Rogers Cup History. 39 of the Top 39 players in the world are set to take part, led by current and former No. 1 players Ashleigh Barty, legend Serena Williams, Simona Halep and Canadian star Bianca Andreescu,” said Karl Hale, Tournament Director of the Rogers Cup in Toronto. “Each year, we strive to improve the experience for the fans and for the players. We want to ensure that everyone has a memorable time with both on and off the court entertainment. With our notable enhancements and such a strong player list, the stage is set for another great week of tennis.”
The Wild Cards for both Montreal and Toronto will be announced at a later date.
Click here to consult the Montreal player list.
Click here to consult the Toronto player list.
Owned and operated by Tennis Canada, the prestigious Rogers Cup presented by National Bank attracts the biggest stars in tennis year after year. In 2019, the men’s event will take place at IGA Stadium in Montreal from August 2 to 11, while the women’s event will take place at the Aviva Centre in Toronto from August 3 to 11.
Tickets are on sale online at www.couperogers.com for the Montreal tournament and www.rogerscup.com for the Toronto tournament.
