12-day format and 96-singles player main draw to be introduced next year, bringing it closer than ever to a Grand Slam format.
The summer of 2025 will kickstart a new era for the National Bank Open presented by Rogers (NBO) as Canada’s showpiece tournament is redefined both on and off the court with the introduction of an expanded schedule and larger draw. On Wednesday, Tennis Canada confirmed the dates for next year’s tournaments in Toronto and Montreal, which will include 96 singles players in the main draw, competing over 12 days.
This upgrade in status sees the NBO join an elite group of six extended combined events on the WTA and ATP Tours, bringing the format of Canada’s premier tennis tournaments closer to that of a Grand Slam.
Watch the video below as the new format is explained. Click here to see the full 2025 schedule.
MORE WORLD-CLASS TENNIS OVER MORE DAYS AND SESSIONS*
- A one-day, 32-player qualifying format will be introduced, commencing on Saturday, July 26 with main draw action getting underway on Sunday, July 27 in both cities.
- The main draw player field will expand from the previous 56 to 96 and a total of seven sessions will be added, including an entire new round to the tournament.
- Quarter-finals will be spread over two days (Monday, August 4 and Tuesday, August 5) and will be played exclusively during night sessions. Meanwhile, our two semi-finals will be during a single-night session on Wednesday, August 6.
- The women’s and men’s finals will take place on Thursday, August 7 with our champions also set to be crowned under the lights during night sessions at Sobeys Stadium and Stade IGA.
- In doubles, we will also move from a draw of 28 teams to 32.
Leylah Annie Fernandez, Laval, QC native and No. 33 on the WTA Tour, said: “As Canadians, it’s great to see our home event getting even bigger and better. It’s always a highlight of the year to play at the National Bank Open in Montreal or Toronto, and I can’t wait to see the positive impact this new format will have on the fans, the cities and Canadian tennis.”
Félix Auger-Aliassime, Montreal, QC native and World No. 18 on the ATP Tour, added: “The National Bank Open has always been a source of great pride for us as Canadian players. This new format is one we are really excited about and it’s fantastic to see the tournaments continue to evolve and improve. We’re sure the sport will continue to grow, and even more Canadians will be inspired to pick up a racquet as a result.”
*Schedule is subject to change.
ELEVATED EVENT, ELEVATED FAN EXPERIENCE
- The NBO will be redefined off the court too, ushering in an enhanced fan experience and bringing even more variety to our attendees.
- On-site programming will take on a new lease of life, with even more fun activities and player engagement opportunities for fans of all ages.
- As always, the 407 ETR (Toronto) and IGA (Montreal) Family Weekend will remain important pillars of the events in both cities.
Valerie Tetreault, Tournament Director, National Bank Open – Montreal, said: “As we continue to elevate our tournaments both on and off the court, today’s announcement is a significant one for the future of our events. It is a real vote of confidence from the Tours due to the positive reputation we have on the international stage thanks to our loyal fans, partners and volunteers. With this expansion, the National Bank Open is getting closer to a Grand Slam format, which will have a positive impact on players and fans. It will also offer the cities of Montreal and Toronto the opportunity to benefit from an even larger platform to shine on the international stage.”
Karl Hale, Tournament Director, National Bank Open – Toronto, added: “The fan and player experience are always top of our list of priorities. This new format will see the National Bank Open go to a new level in both categories, improving the action on-court and offering fans even more opportunities to engage with our tournaments and athletes. We would like to thank the WTA and ATP Tours, and the players, for all the positive work and discussions in moving to this expanded schedule. We’re looking forward to introducing everyone to a redefined National Bank Open next year.”
IMPACT OF AN EXPANDED FORMAT
- The bigger and better player field will be provided with a rest day in between matches, up until the semi-finals, to ensure optimized player health, recovery time and top performance levels.
- On the pathway to equal prize money at the NBO in 2027, the expansion to a 12-day model will see an increase in prize money for women’s players from 2025 onwards.
- In the coming years, following the incrementally increased revenue from an expanded event, Tennis Canada plans to invest more in the growth and development of tennis in Canada, and the next generation of tennis stars.
- As a result of the expansion, Tennis Canada will receive more main draw singles wildcards, meaning more opportunities for Canadians to play at the NBO.
- The 12-day format will be adopted during non-Olympic years only, with the event reverting to a 7-day model on the years the Games take place.
Gavin Ziv, Chief Executive Officer of Tennis Canada, said: “The National Bank Open presented by Rogers has truly established itself as one of the elite tennis events in the world. The wider impact this expansion will have on tennis in Canada cannot be underestimated as it brings with it the opportunity to inspire even more Canadians to participate in the sport. We would like to thank our title partner, National Bank, for their continued investment in our events, which has allowed us to grow. This step, and the increased revenue it will generate, will also be significant on our path to awarding equal prize money for women and men’s players by 2027.”
