MONTREAL/TORONTO, July 14, 2022 (Tennis Canada Press Release)
After a nearly three-year wait, the National Bank Open presented by Rogers makes its official return at full capacity and will once again welcome fans in Montréal at IGA Stadium (August 5 to 14) and in Toronto at Sobeys Stadium (August 6 to 14). To mark the occasion, the tournament will have the privilege of presenting exceptional draws, as the vast majority of the members of the ATP and Hologic WTA Top 50s are slated to compete! In Montréal, the legendary Rafael Nadal, who holds the men’s all-time record of 22 Grand Slam crowns, will be in action. He has raised five winner’s trophies in Canada and is the current titleholder of the men’s event in Montréal. The Spaniard will be out to equal Ivan Lendl’s record of six Canadian Open titles set in 1989. Canadian tennis fans in Montréal will also be thrilled to see Félix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov back on the courts. Currently ranked No.9, Auger-Aliassime won his very first ATP title last February in Rotterdam. As for Shapovalov (No.24), he is always one to watch. In 2017, he took everyone by surprise when he defeated Nadal at IGA Stadium to reach the semifinals. Still, our Canadians will have their work cut out for them as they contend with the young guns of the world’s elite, including No.4 Stefanos Tsitsipas (23 years old), No.5 Casper Ruud (23 years old), No.6 Carlos Alcaraz (19 years old) and No.10 Jannik Sinner (20 years old). World No.1 Daniil Medvedev reigns supreme at the top of the list. A 2019 finalist in Montréal, he will be intent on defending the Canadian title he secured last year in Toronto. “We are very excited to announce the Player List for the 2022 National Bank Open presented by Rogers,” affirmed Eugene Lapierre, Tournament Director of the National Bank Open in Montreal. “In addition to this fantastic draw, our tournament will finally be returning to full capacity with a sensational program for everyone, from the young to the young at heart. Personally, I’m really looking forward to it, and I am far from the only one judging by the sales that promise to be a record high. The Open will be the must-see event of the summer!” Click here for the complete entry list in Montréal. In Toronto, 41 of the top 43-ranked players on the Hologic WTA Tour are on the entry list, including two-time Roland-Garros champion and world No. 1 Iga Swiatek. Also among them are fan favourites Naomi Osaka, Coco Gauff, and Toronto-born star Emma Raducanu. The stacked list of players doesn’t stop there, as 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams elected to use her protected ranking to enter the National Bank Open main draw for the first time since her run to the finals in 2019. Canadian fans won’t have a hard time remembering that championship match, as Williams finished runner-up to none other than Mississauga’s Bianca Andreescu. A rematch at this year’s tournament is still in the cards, with Andreescu making her return to Toronto with a Top 20 wildcard. Joining Andreescu as the other Canadian on the player list is world No. 14 Leylah Annie Fernandez. The 2021 US Open finalist has her sights set on winning her first National Bank Open main-draw match. And while Fernandez’s session is yet to be announced, it’s confirmed that Andreescu will kick off her campaign during the night session on Tuesday, August 9. Another early-round contest to look forward to will be Swiatek’s second-round match, scheduled during the day session on Wednesday, August 10. “When you read over that star-studded list, it’s hard not to get excited about the WTA Tour making its return to Sobeys Stadium,” said Karl Hale, Tournament Director of the National Bank Open in Toronto. “Not only is this one of the strongest, if not the strongest, player list we’ve ever submitted, but it’s also the first time since 2019 that the National Bank Open returns to full capacity. We’re thrilled that these players will have a chance to play in front of a packed house, and we’re even happier for our fans who will get to watch tennis’ very best at the 2022 edition of the National Bank Open.” Click here for the complete entry list in Toronto.
