The National Bank Open reaches a key turning point on Saturday and Sunday, when the round of 16 decides who stays alive in Montreal and Toronto. The men’s field in Montreal has already produced major shocks, while the women’s draw in Toronto still features most of the biggest names.
By the end of the weekend, only eight players in each draw will remain. That makes this stage one of the most important of the tournament, especially with title contenders, young breakouts, and Canada’s last hope all under pressure.
When the matches are set
The round-of-16 matches are scheduled for Saturday, August 8, and Sunday, August 9, 2026. Montreal will host the men at IGA Stadium, while Toronto will stage the women’s event.
In Montreal, the day session on center court begins at 12:30 p.m., and the evening session starts at 6 p.m.. In Toronto, the comparable start times are 12:30 p.m. for the day and 7 p.m. for the night session.
Each city will play eight singles matches across the two days. The winners move into the quarterfinals, which are due on Monday, August 10, and Tuesday, August 11. The official order of play is usually posted the day before each session because schedule changes can follow long matches or weather delays.
Montreal has turned into an open race
The men’s draw lost several top seeds very early. Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, and Andrey Rublev were all beaten in their opening matches, and Félix Auger-Aliassime withdrew because of a back injury. Six of the top 10 seeds were already out before the second round was complete.
That has made the Montreal section far more unpredictable than expected. The favorites are still dangerous, but the bracket now looks far more reachable for players who entered the event outside the very top tier.
Ben Shelton remains one of the main names to watch. The defending champion opened with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Jenson Brooksby, and his serve and first-strike tennis fit the fast courts well. Casper Ruud is also positioned to make a run after a strong 6-1, 6-2 win over Juan Manuel Cerúndolo.
Who has the best chance to move on?
Several players now have a realistic path to the quarterfinals. Shelton has the advantage of title experience, Ruud has steady form, and a group of younger players has already proven that rankings alone will not decide anything here.
- Ben Shelton has the most obvious championship profile in Montreal because he already knows how to win this event and has the power game to control short points.
- Casper Ruud brings a calmer style and has enough hard-court experience to handle a draw that suddenly looks much softer than it did at the start of the week.
- João Fonseca has momentum after defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in a match that showed both power and composure under pressure.
- Arthur Fils has the athleticism to keep extending rallies and the shot-making to trouble anyone if he finds a steady rhythm.
- Tallon Griekspoor has already delivered one of the biggest upsets by coming back against Zverev, and that kind of win can change the tone of an entire tournament.
None of these players can assume the next round will be simple, but the draw now rewards confidence more than reputation. Montreal has become the kind of event where one sharp performance can change the entire week.
Canada’s men are already out of the picture
Canadian fans hoped to see Félix Auger-Aliassime and Gabriel Diallo survive into the second week, but neither path held up. Auger-Aliassime never played his first match because of the back issue that forced his withdrawal. Diallo beat Kyrian Jacquet in his opener, then retired against Luciano Darderi while trailing 6-4, 2-3.
That means no Canadian man reached the round of 16. It is a disappointing result for the home crowd, but the field still includes several players with strong name value and upset potential, so Montreal should remain lively all weekend.
Toronto still has several title threats
The women’s draw has been more orderly. Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, and Mirra Andreeva all advanced through their opening matches, and each one remains a serious threat to reach the final weekend.
Sabalenka looks especially sharp. She opened with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Moyuka Uchijima and stretched her hard-court winning streak to 13 matches. Her serve, power, and willingness to finish points early make her a difficult matchup on Toronto’s faster courts.
Rybakina had a tougher start, needing three sets to get past Daria Kasatkina. She won 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in two hours and 33 minutes, finishing with 58 winners and 58 unforced errors. That stat line captures both sides of her game: huge upside, but enough volatility to give opponents hope.
Gauff and Pegula also survived pressure. Gauff beat qualifier Kayla Day 6-2, 7-5, while Pegula dropped the first set against Magdalena Frech before turning the match around and winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.
Andreeva and Fernandez add another layer
Mirra Andreeva may have produced the cleanest win of the event so far. She dismissed Karolina Pliskova 6-0, 6-2 in just 54 minutes, showing the calm and variety that have made her one of the most interesting young players on tour. At 19, she already looks comfortable solving problems quickly on hard courts.
For Canada, Leylah Fernandez is the last player left standing in either singles draw. She defeated Renata Zarazúa 6-2, 6-2 in front of the Toronto crowd, dropping serve only once and breaking five times. Her next opponent is Elise Mertens, a polished veteran who can stretch points and force mistakes.
Fernandez will need to keep attacking early and use her forehand to open the court. She was already the final Canadian in singles before this match, so the pressure is clear, but the home support should still give her energy.
What to watch next
The next two days should tell the real story of the tournament. Montreal may continue to favor the players who have already embraced the chaos, while Toronto appears more likely to reward the established names if they stay sharp.
- In Montreal, Shelton and Ruud have the strongest mix of form and experience.
- Fonseca, Fils, and Griekspoor have already shown they can beat high-ranked opponents.
- In Toronto, Sabalenka is still the most complete player in the field.
- Rybakina, Pegula, Gauff, and Andreeva all have the level to reach the semifinals.
- Fernandez carries the remaining Canadian hopes and will be the main local story for the rest of the weekend.
Sportsnet and TVA Sports are the official Canadian broadcasters, with coverage available through their digital platforms as well. Since schedules can shift, the safest approach is to check the order of play before each session begins.