How the National Bank Open is shaping the future of tennis in North America

Canadians have one of the most interesting open tournaments on the tour, the National Bank Open, a 1000 ATP championship that drew some of the most recognizable names in tennis today. The 2025 tournament is held from July 27th to August 7th, outdoors on hard surfaces. It’s another championship that serves as a precursor to the US Open, where players can measure their fitness and preparedness for Grand Slams. 

The National Bank Open is a perfect blend of history and innovative technologies. Every year, the tournament attracts big names in tennis, both from the men’s and women’s tours, invests in young players who are yet to prove themselves, and works on improving fans’ experience. Over the years, its influence has spread beyond the courts of Toronto and Montreal, inspiring new generations of players and pushing tennis closer to the mainstream in North America. 

This year, National Bank Open expert picks and predictions are vastly different, given that Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, and Carlos Alcaraz took a pass, meaning that this year we will have a surprise winner. A total of 96 men will compete in Toronto this year, but only one can lift the trophy, so who will it be? 

These are the odds for men, taking into account players  fitness, rankings, and results so far: 

• Alexander Zverev @ 7.00 (+600) 
• Taylor Fritz @ 7.00 (+600) 
• Alex de Minaur @ 11.00 (+1000) 
• Ben Shelton @ 11.00 (+1000) 
• Daniil Medvedev @ 13.00 (+1200) 
• Joao Fonseca @ 17.00 (+1600) 
• Jakub Mensik @ 21.00 (+2000) 

• Jiri Lehecka @ 26.00 (+2500) 
  

Women are playing in Montreal this year, with Sabalenka missing out on the tournament. So far, a few players have shown stellar fitness and stamina. These are the odds, so far:  

• Iga Swiatek (+250) 
• Coco Gauff (+650) 
• Mirra Andreeva (+800) 
• Elena Rybakina (11-1) 
• Madison Keys (14-1) 
• Amanda Anisimova (18-1) 
• Jessica Pegula (22-1) 
• Marketa Vondrousova (33-1) 
• Emma Raducanu (33-1) 
• Jasmine Paolini (40-1) 
  

Even though Alexander Zverev is still struggling to win his first title on grass, other surfaces have served him well. At the National Bank Open 2025, Zverev won his 500th ATP tour match against Matteo Arnaldi. That victory made him the fifth active player and one of the fastest in this century to reach 500 wins, so if you’re looking to bet on the National Bank Open, Zverev, a fifth player in the world, could be a slam dunk. Earlier in April, Zverev captured the upgraded Munich Open title, an ATP 500 event, defeating American Ben Shelton in the final. He also reached the final in Stuttgart, played on grass, but lost to Fritz. 

At Grand Slams, Zverev managed to reach the finals at the Australian Open, and the quarterfinals at Roland Garros. His fight for the Grand Slam continues, but his consistency and fitness level this season have been superior.  

Taylor Fritz made waves this year as the first American since Pete Sampras to reach the semifinals at Wimbledon. Fritz has been phenomenal on the grass surface, winning the ATP250 in Stuttgart against Zverev. He also won another grass‑court title at Eastbourne in late June, marking his fourth career title at that event.

However, Fritz has shown great skills on hard surfaces last year when he played in the US Open final, which shot him to fourth seed in the world last year. The National Bank Open is played on a hard surface, so Fritz might be a good choice for those looking to place wagers and take advantage of the superb deals at the Exclusive National Bank Open Promotion. The 27 year old, 6ft 5in Fritz seems to have an impeccable form this year, winning the United Cup Crown where he played four full matches.  

Alex De Minaur sustained an injury last year that kept him from playing. Still, he managed to reach No.6 on the ATP a year ago. At the National Bank Open, the 26 year old Ozzie beat his fellow countryman, O’Connell in round 32. So far, he’s been showing great improvement compared to last year, reaching the quarterfinals at the Australian Open despite a hip injury from the Wimbledon months before.

In May, at the Roland-Garros, De Minaur played some grueling matches only to lose in the second round to Bublik after winning the first two sets. After this match, Alex questioned the demanding schedule of the ATP tour, discussing players’ burnout and calling for shorter seasons.  

The ATP Tour had previously called him one of the fittest competitors on the circuit fast, resistant and explosive, and De Minaur himself said that he feels more mature as a player, mentally hardened by recent challenges and ready for even bigger results.  

Any one of these players could be lifting the trophy at the National Bank Open this year. If you look at the odds and read their previous match analysis at Stake.com, all three have a chance this year in Canada. Zverev is on fire, with 500 titles under his belt, Fritz is finding his footing on hard surfaces, and De Minaur is physically stronger than ever.  

When it comes to the National Bank Open Women’s singles, the biggest news was Sabalenka’s withdrawal from the tournament. She cited that her schedule is jam packed, and fatigue got to her. Also, there’s a US Open coming up and Sabalenka shifted her focus on getting prepared for the Grand Slam.  

This did not deter the fans from cheering for one of the best players in the world, and the biggest names in women’s tennis today, like Geoff and Swiatek.  

Coco Gauff has had a magnificent year so far. The 21 year old helped the US team win the United Cup, without losses. At the Italian Open in Rome, she reached her second consecutive final in a WTA 1000 tournament, ultimately falling to Jasmine Paolini. However, her biggest highlight of the year came at Roland-Garros where she defeated Aryna Sabalenka to win her second Grand Slam.

Gauff had a mishap at the French Open, losing in the first round, but quickly rebounded at the National Bank Open in Montreal where she won against Kudermetova despite an unusual number of double faults 23. Still, Gauff is one of the major contenders for the title in Canada with huge support from the audience.  

Despite being very fit, with great speed and stamina on the court, Gauff’s main issue is inconsistency. To be fair, she is only 21, and there’s a lot of work to be done, both mentally and physically, so experts who follow the young player on tour are claiming that Gauff remains one of the most talented American players since Serena Williams.  

Iga Swiatek has had a turbulent end to the last year, coming from a month long doping suspension due to contaminated melatonin. She was later cleared of any wrongdoing, but the mental toll was significant to the point where she had suffered anxiety attacks and depression. Still, Swiatek managed to pull herself together and win the 2025 Wimbledon, with a perfect 6-0, 6-0 in the finals against Amanda Anisimova. Even though she struggled with injuries and fatigue, she still remains one of the major favorites at the National Bank Open.  

Mirra Andreeva is a 17 year old powerful player who is turning heads this season. In February, Andreeva became the youngest ever WTA 1000 champion at the Dubai Tennis Championships, defeating Clara Tauson in the final and earning her place in the top ten. A month later, Andreeva beat Sabalenka for the title at Indian Wells, taking her second WTA 1000 title. Coming to the National Bank Open as No.5 Andreeva established herself as a force to reckon with. Many are keeping an eye on this young player with a strong work ethic, stamina, resilience and calmness under pressure. She has all the ingredients to become the next great champion.  

The Historic Importance of the National Bank Open 

The National Bank Open has become one of the crucial stops on tour. Stretching back to 1881 for men, and 1892 for women, the tournament is one of the oldest that still remains relevant. Some of the most famous names played in Canada, from Rod Laver and Martina Navratilova to Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic, helping the tournament solidify its reputation.  

The tournament is bringing world class tennis to local fans setting the stage for unforgettable matches and intense rivalries. With all its history, the National Bank Open championship remains one of the most important tournaments in North America.  

Expanding the Popularity of Tennis 

Canada is well known for its love for ice hockey, leaving tennis on the sidelines for decades. Slowly, Canadian fans began taking an interest in tennis, and the National Bank Open played a critical role in bringing people to the stadium.  

Another major factor influencing the Canadian audience to pay attention to the sport is the rise of their native tennis stars like Milos Raonic, Félix Auger-Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov, Bianca Andreescu, Leylah Fernandez, and Eugenie Bouchard. Alongside the fans, young players in Canada finally have their own tennis role models to look up to, driving the interest in sport to new heights.  

The tournament has also made tennis more accessible, with community programs and ticket initiatives aimed at reaching families, schools, and young athletes who are looking to make their major break. Suddenly, with the National Bank Open becoming one of the major tournaments in North America, tennis became relatable and accessible to common folks.  

A Hub for Innovations in Tennis 

The National Bank Open is played at outdoor hard surface courts as part of the warm up for the US Open championship. Specifically, matches were played on acrylic courts using the DecoTurf system, which is basically a concrete base topped with a cushioning layer. For players, this meant more balance and less pressure on the joints.  

Since 2024, the tournament has resurfaced its courts using products from Har‑Tru, the official court surface and paint supplier for Tennis Canada, which committed to donating to community courts for every ace played on the tournament.  

This new layer of acrylic resulted in matches being faster with moderate to high bounce. The surface proved to be particularly useful to baseline players who praised it as being less twitchy with more stability and control of the ball.  

Inspiring the Next Generation of Tennis Superstars 

Possibly one of the most lasting impacts of the National Bank Open is the effect on young tennis players in Canada. Kids across diverse communities can now see up close their idols, connect with them and the sport. Seeing their favorite players fighting to stay in the match, or winning the title has a profound impact on young athletes’ psyches.  

Also, the tournament itself supports local communities by providing scholarships and coaching for kids across the country, so that the dream of becoming the next tennis star seems attainable to youngsters.  

The Economic and Cultural Impact 

The National Bank Open gives back to the communities by popularizing the sport and bringing thousands of people to local hotels, restaurants and local businesses. Fans from around the globe flock to Toronto and Montreal every year to watch some of the most famous players take a chance at winning, while giving a great boost to the local economy.  

Culturally, Canada has been known as the hockey hub, and not much else. However, in the last couple of decades, tennis has become one of the most popular sports, putting Canada on the map as a world class tennis destination.  

Looking Toward the Future of Tennis in Canada 

The National Bank’s Open has everything that makes a tennis tournament go global. By mixing tradition with new technologies, and actively investing in communities bringing popularity and recognition to the sport, the tournament took the wheel in shaping the future of tennis in North America. It is already influencing how other events across North America are run, pushing them to grow and invest in local communities and build larger fan bases.  

In the last few years, the National Bank Open is shaping up to be one of the most important championships on Canadian soil.