2026 National Bank Open: The Favourites Chasing a Quarterfinal Place

The round of 16 at the 2026 National Bank Open will take centre stage in Canadian sports this weekend. The leading men will compete in Montreal, while the biggest names on the women’s tour continue their title bids in Toronto.

The round-of-16 matches will be split across Saturday, August 8, and Sunday, August 9. By the end of the weekend, only eight men and eight women will remain in contention for the title.

With several major surprises already unfolding in Montreal, the biggest stars advancing in Toronto and Canadian hopes resting on Leylah Fernandez, this stage of the tournament promises several important matches.

When Will the Round-of-16 Matches Take Place?

The men’s and women’s round-of-16 matches will be played on Saturday, August 8, and Sunday, August 9, 2026.

In Montreal, matches will take place at IGA Stadium. Day sessions on centre court will begin at 12:30 p.m., while evening sessions will start at 6 p.m.

In Toronto, centre-court action will begin at 12:30 p.m. during the day and 7 p.m. in the evening.

Each city will host eight singles matches across the two days. The winners will advance to the quarterfinals, which are scheduled for Monday, August 10, and Tuesday, August 11.

The complete order of play is normally released the day before each session, as match lengths and weather conditions can affect the schedule.

A Wide-Open Men’s Draw in Montreal

The men’s tournament lost several of its leading seeds early in the week.

Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz and Andrey Rublev were all eliminated in their opening matches. Félix Auger-Aliassime, the tournament’s second seed, was forced to withdraw because of a back injury.

Six of the top 10 seeds were already out of the competition before the end of the second round.

Those results have completely opened up the Montreal draw.

Ben Shelton remains one of the main favourites. The defending champion began his tournament with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Jenson Brooksby. His powerful serve and aggressive style are particularly effective on the fast courts at IGA Stadium.

Casper Ruud is another player to watch. The Norwegian dominated Juan Manuel Cerúndolo 6-1, 6-2 in his opening match.

Although Ruud is best known for his performances on clay, he now has enough experience on hard courts to take advantage of such an open draw.

Can Ben Shelton Defend His Title?

Shelton arrives in Montreal under additional pressure after winning the 2025 National Bank Open.

The American claimed his first Masters 1000 title at the tournament last year. His serve, forehand and ability to play with high energy helped him defeat several higher-ranked opponents.

The situation is different in 2026. Shelton is no longer viewed only as a dangerous young player. He is now expected to reach the later stages of major tournaments.

With Zverev, Medvedev and Fritz already eliminated, his possible path to the final looks more manageable.

However, he must avoid the inconsistent spells that can appear when he tries to finish points too quickly.

Young Players Take Advantage of the Upsets

The men’s draw could also give a younger generation the opportunity to move closer to a first major title.

João Fonseca delivered one of the standout performances of the opening rounds by defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in a competitive match.

The young Brazilian already possesses one of the most powerful games on the tour and appears comfortable performing in front of large crowds.

Arthur Fils is also a serious candidate to reach the quarterfinals. The Frenchman defeated Zachary Svajda in three sets and has the athletic playing style required to perform well on Montreal’s courts.

Tallon Griekspoor can no longer be viewed as merely a surprise contender after his victory over Zverev.

The Dutchman recovered after losing the opening set and won 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 against the top seed.

In a draw where several favourites have already disappeared, the confidence gained from such an important victory could help him continue his run.

A Difficult Week for the Canadians in Montreal

Canadian fans had hoped to see Félix Auger-Aliassime and Gabriel Diallo reach the closing rounds of their home tournament.

Auger-Aliassime was unable to play his opening singles match because of a back injury. He had been considered one of the main title contenders after being named the second seed.

Diallo made a positive start by defeating France’s Kyrian Jacquet, recording his first main-draw victory in Montreal.

His tournament ended in the following round when he was forced to retire against Luciano Darderi. The Italian was leading 6-4, 2-3 when the Canadian withdrew.

As a result, no Canadian man reached the round of 16.

Despite that disappointment, supporters at IGA Stadium will still have several popular players to follow, including Shelton, Ruud, Fonseca, Fils and Griekspoor.

The Leading Women Advance in Toronto

The women’s draw was more stable during the opening rounds.

Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva all won their first matches and advanced to the third round.

Sabalenka remains the player to beat.

The world No. 1 began her campaign with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima. The win extended her hard-court winning streak to 13 matches.

Her powerful game and strong serve are particularly valuable on Toronto’s fast courts.

Reaching the round of 16 would also strengthen her position at the top of the world rankings.

Elena Rybakina Searches for Her Best Level

Second seed Elena Rybakina needed three sets to defeat Daria Kasatkina.

The 2026 Australian Open champion won 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 after two hours and 33 minutes. She finished the match with 58 winners and 58 unforced errors.

That performance showed both sides of Rybakina’s game.

When she finds her targets on serve and strikes the ball cleanly, very few players can match her power. However, her high error count could become a problem against a stronger opponent.

Rybakina remains one of the leading title contenders.

She could even move ahead of Sabalenka in the world rankings, but only if she wins the tournament and the Belarusian is eliminated before the round of 16.

Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula Remain Dangerous

Coco Gauff began her tournament with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over American qualifier Kayla Day.

The fourth seed did not control every rally, but her speed and defensive skills helped her win the most important points.

Her movement remains one of her biggest advantages against players who constantly search for winners.

Jessica Pegula endured an even more difficult opening match.

The two-time National Bank Open champion lost the first set against Magdalena Frech before turning the contest around. Pegula eventually won 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 after taking eight of the final nine games.

Her experience in Canada should not be underestimated.

Pegula won the tournament in 2023 and 2024 and knows how to manage the conditions of the North American hard-court season.

Mirra Andreeva Impresses in Her Opening Match

Mirra Andreeva produced perhaps the most convincing performance among the leading contenders.

The French Open champion defeated former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova 6-0, 6-2 in only 54 minutes.

Andreeva is just 19 years old, but she already plays with remarkable maturity.

She defends well, changes the pace of rallies effectively and rarely makes unnecessary mistakes.

Her quick adjustment to hard courts is an important warning for her rivals.

After winning her first Grand Slam title on clay, she is now trying to prove that she can also dominate on faster surfaces.

Leylah Fernandez Carries Canada’s Final Hopes

Leylah Fernandez became the last Canadian remaining in either singles draw after defeating Renata Zarazúa.

The Laval player delivered a solid performance to win 6-2, 6-2 in front of the centre-court crowd.

She lost serve only once and broke her opponent five times.

Her path to the round of 16 goes through Elise Mertens, an experienced player who is capable of extending rallies and forcing opponents into difficult situations.

Fernandez will need to continue playing aggressively.

When she takes the ball early and uses her forehand to move her opponent around the court, she can compete with the best players on the tour.

The pressure will still be significant.

Fernandez was already the final Canadian remaining in singles before she even played her first match of the tournament.

Where to Watch the National Bank Open

Sportsnet and TVA Sports are the official Canadian broadcasters of the National Bank Open.

Both networks are showing matches from Montreal and Toronto throughout the tournament. Coverage is also available through their respective digital platforms.

Since schedules can change depending on match length and weather conditions, viewers should check the official order of play before each session begins.

A Decisive Weekend in Montreal and Toronto

The round of 16 should provide a clearer picture of the true favourites at the 2026 National Bank Open.

In Montreal, the early eliminations have created an unpredictable tournament.

Shelton and Ruud have the experience required to make a deep run, but Fonseca, Fils and Griekspoor have already shown that they can defeat higher-ranked opponents.

In Toronto, Sabalenka, Rybakina, Pegula, Gauff and Andreeva are aiming for much more than a quarterfinal appearance.

For Canadian fans, most of the attention will remain on Leylah Fernandez.

Reaching the closing stages of the weekend would keep local interest alive in a tournament where the other Canadians have either been eliminated or affected by injuries.

The matches on Saturday and Sunday will determine the final eight players in each draw and could produce some of the defining moments of the 2026 tournament.