Leylah Fernandez, the 30th seed from Laval, Quebec, is set to commence her National Bank Open campaign in Toronto this week. Fernandez enters the tournament with an opening-round bye, her first match will be against either Mexico's Renata Zarazua or Germany's Tamara Korpatsch following Friday's draw for the women's bracket.
The path ahead for Fernandez is already proving to be demanding. Should she advance to the Round of 32, she could face a stern test against the fifth seed, Mirra Andreeva of Russia. The top of the draw is stacked with elite talent, featuring World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, second seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, and two-time champion Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff, both from the United States, as well as Poland's Iga Swiatek, all considered strong contenders for the title.
Fellow Canadian Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 National Bank Open champion, will begin her tournament against Czechia's Nikola Bartunkova. Other Canadian singles entries include Vancouver's Rebecca Marino, London's Kayla Cross, Toronto's Cadence Brace, and Richmond Hill's Ariana Arseneault and Carol Zhao. Qualifying matches commenced on Saturday, with main-draw play scheduled to start Sunday.
The National Bank Open, a prestigious WTA 1000 event, is taking place in Toronto from August 1 to August 13, 2026. This year's tournament is expected to draw significant crowds and international attention, highlighting Canada's role in hosting world-class sporting events.
