National Bank Open 2026 Preview: Zverev Leads as Sinner, Djokovic and Alcaraz Withdraw

The National Bank Open 2026 runs from 1–13 August, with the men in Montreal and the women in Toronto — and the men’s draw has been turned upside down before a ball has been struck. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic both withdrew in late July, and Carlos Alcaraz is still absent with the wrist injury that cost him Roland-Garros and Wimbledon.

With the top three of men’s tennis missing, Montreal is the most open Masters 1000 of the season — and a rare chance for someone outside the sport’s established order to land a big title. In Toronto, by contrast, the women’s field is close to full strength, with 72 of the WTA’s top 75 entered and all four reigning major champions in the draw.

When Is the National Bank Open 2026?

Both events have expanded to 96-player draws across 12 days, meaning the top seeds receive first-round byes and the tournament builds more gradually than the old one-week format. Full coverage lives on our National Bank Open hub.

Montreal: The Men’s Draw Blows Open

Three withdrawals have reshaped the men’s event. Sinner, fresh from defending his Wimbledon title, cited the need to prioritise his health after a punishing run of tennis. Djokovic followed him out the same day. Alcaraz, meanwhile, has not played since the Australian Open final in January — a wrist problem has kept the newly minted career Grand Slam champion off court through the clay and grass seasons. Jack Draper is also missing.

That leaves Alexander Zverev as the clear headline act and the man to beat. The German has had the season of his career: a maiden Grand Slam title at Roland-Garros, followed by a run to the Wimbledon final where he took the opening set off Sinner before losing in four. He is now world No. 2, and a first Canadian title would be a logical next step.

Canadian hopes rest on Félix Auger-Aliassime. The Montreal native is making his ninth appearance on home soil and arrives in strong form after reaching the Wimbledon quarter-finals, where he pushed Djokovic to five sets in the longest quarter-final in the tournament’s history. Playing in his home city with a depleted field above him, this is arguably the best chance he has had at a home Masters title.

Defending champion Ben Shelton returns to protect the biggest title of his career, won in 2025. The American’s huge serve is tailor-made for quick outdoor hard courts. Daniil Medvedev, champion here in 2021, remains a threat on this surface, while Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur round out a strong second tier.

Toronto: A Stacked Women’s Field

The contrast could hardly be sharper. Toronto has attracted 72 of the WTA’s top 75 players, and every reigning major champion of the 2026 season will be there.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka heads the entry list, making her seventh appearance in Canada and looking to reassert herself after a fourth-round exit at Wimbledon. Elena Rybakina arrives as Australian Open champion, having beaten Sabalenka in a three-set final in Melbourne, and sits at world No. 2. Six-time major winner Iga Swiatek will be looking to arrest a slide that has taken her out of the world’s top five.

Roland-Garros champion Mirra Andreeva and Wimbledon champion Linda Nosková complete the set of 2026 major winners. Nosková, still only 21, arrives at a career-high ranking with her flat, first-strike game arguably better suited to these hard courts than to the grass where she won her maiden title. Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff and four-time major champion Naomi Osaka — runner-up in Toronto last year — add still more depth.

One notable absentee: defending champion Victoria Mboko misses the tournament with a left knee injury, so a new name will be engraved on the women’s trophy. Canadian interest instead falls on wild card Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 champion, with seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams also in the field.

Why the Canadian Open Matters

The National Bank Open is the first of two big North American Masters events before the season’s final major, followed by Cincinnati and then the US Open, which begins on 31 August. Conditions in Montreal and Toronto — outdoor hard courts in warm August air — closely mirror Flushing Meadows, so form here is one of the better guides to who will contend in New York.

The ranking implications are significant too. With 1,000 points on offer and several of the biggest names absent from Montreal, the men’s race for the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin could shift considerably in a single fortnight.

How to Watch the National Bank Open 2026

In the UK, the National Bank Open is shown live on Sky Sports Tennis, with streaming available through NOW. Bet365 also streams matches live to eligible account holders. For the full breakdown of channels and streams across tournaments, see our how to watch tennis guide.

Betting Preview

Zverev is a deserved favourite in a Montreal draw missing its top three, but a wide-open field is exactly where each-way value tends to live — and Auger-Aliassime at home is the obvious sentimental and sporting angle. In Toronto, the depth of the field makes the women’s market the harder of the two to call. For our full picks see the tennis betting tips section and compare prices via our tennis betting offers.

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FAQs

When is the National Bank Open 2026?
From 1 to 13 August 2026, in an expanded 12-day format with 96-player draws.

Why are Sinner, Djokovic and Alcaraz not playing?
Sinner and Djokovic both withdrew in late July, with Sinner citing the need to protect his health after defending his Wimbledon title. Alcaraz remains out with the wrist injury that also ruled him out of Roland-Garros and Wimbledon.

Who is the favourite in Montreal?
Alexander Zverev, the Roland-Garros champion and Wimbledon finalist, is the highest-ranked player in the men’s field.

Where is the National Bank Open played?
It splits between two cities and alternates them annually. In 2026 the men play in Montreal and the women in Toronto.

More Coverage

• National Bank Open 2026 hub — draw, contenders and results
• US Open 2026 — the season’s final major, from 31 August
• ATP rankings · WTA rankings