First held in 1881, the Canadian Open is the second-oldest active tennis tournament in the world, behind only Wimbledon. The event alternates annually between Montreal and Toronto for the men's and women's competitions, and its remarkable roll of honour includes legends such as Bjorn Borg, Ivan Lendl, John McEnroe, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner, underlining its rich history and enduring importance on the ATP Tour.
Tournament Overview
The National Bank Open has been an ATP Masters 1000 event since the series was introduced in 1990 and has been played on outdoor hard courts since 1979. The tournament expanded to a 96-player singles draw in 2025 as part of the ATP Tour's OneVision reforms, making it one of the biggest events outside the Grand Slams. The 2026 edition offers a total prize pool of US$9,415,724, with players competing for valuable ranking points and momentum ahead of the US Open.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Category | ATP Masters 1000 |
| Surface | Outdoor Hard |
| Location | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Venue | IGA Stadium |
| Founded | 1881 |
| Draw | 96 Singles / 32 Qualifying / 32 Doubles |
| Prize Money | US$9,415,724 |
Ranking Points & Prize Money
For an ATP Masters 1000 event, the ranking points distribution is fixed, with the champion earning 1,000 ATP ranking points. The 2026 edition also features a record prize pool of US$9,415,724, reflecting the tournament's status as one of the most prestigious events outside the Grand Slams and offering substantial financial rewards throughout the draw.
| Round | Prize Money | ATP Ranking Points |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | $1,124,380 | 1000 |
| Finalist | $597,890 | 650 |
| Semifinal | $332,160 | 400 |
| Quarterfinal | $189,075 | 200 |
| Round of 16 | $103,225 | 100 |
| Round of 32 | $60,440 | 50 |
| Round of 64 | $35,260 | 30 |
| Round of 96 | $23,760 | 10 |
Playing Conditions & Court Speed
The National Bank Open is played on the outdoor hard courts of IGA Stadium in Montreal. The surface generally plays at a medium pace with a consistent bounce, rewarding players who combine powerful serving with aggressive baseline tennis while still allowing strong returners and counterpunchers to thrive.
Montreal's warm summer conditions can be physically demanding, although temperatures are typically milder than at events such as Washington or Cincinnati. Wind can occasionally influence play, but overall the conditions are considered fair and balanced, making the tournament a good indicator of form heading into the US Open.
| Factor | Impact |
|---|---|
| Surface Type | Outdoor Hard |
| Court Speed | Medium |
| Altitude | Low (Approx. 30m) |
| Bounce | Medium |
| Weather | Warm Summer Conditions |
| Key Advantage | Strong Serving, Aggressive Baseline Play, Effective Return Game |
Recent Champions
The National Bank Open has consistently crowned some of the biggest stars in men's tennis, with Grand Slam champions and former world No. 1 players regularly lifting the trophy. Five different players have claimed the title over the last five completed editions, highlighting the tournament's depth and competitiveness.
Defending champion Ben Shelton captured his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title in 2025 after defeating Karen Khachanov in a thrilling three-set final. Earlier champions include Alexei Popyrin, Jannik Sinner, Pablo Carreno Busta and Daniil Medvedev.
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Ben Shelton | Karen Khachanov | 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(3) |
| 2024 | Alexei Popyrin | Andrey Rublev | 6-2, 6-4 |
| 2023 | Jannik Sinner | Alex de Minaur | 6-4, 6-1 |
| 2022 | Pablo Carreno Busta | Hubert Hurkacz | 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 |
| 2021 | Daniil Medvedev | Reilly Opelka | 6-4, 6-3 |
Top 8 Seeds
The 2026 National Bank Open features another world-class ATP Masters 1000 field, led by world No. 2 Alexander Zverev. Former champions, Grand Slam finalists and several of the ATP Tour's most dangerous hard-court players are all in contention, promising another highly competitive fortnight in Montreal.
With the top eight seeds receiving first-round byes, they will be expected to lead the title race. However, the depth of the 96-player draw means every section is packed with dangerous opponents capable of producing upsets.
| Seed | Player | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexander Zverev | Germany |
| 2 | Felix Auger-Aliassime | Canada |
| 3 | Alex de Minaur | Australia |
| 4 | Daniil Medvedev | Russia |
| 5 | Ben Shelton | United States |
| 6 | Flavio Cobolli | Italy |
| 7 | Taylor Fritz | United States |
| 8 | Jiri Lehecka | Czech Republic |
Players to Watch
Alexander Zverev
Zverev arrives in Montreal as the top seed and clear title favourite in the absence of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. A former champion at this event, he is playing with immense confidence after winning the French Open and finishing runner-up at Wimbledon. His outstanding record at ATP Masters 1000 tournaments makes him the player to beat.
Daniil Medvedev
A champion in Montreal in 2021, Medvedev's pedigree at Masters 1000 level is beyond question. Although his recent form has been inconsistent, he enters the tournament well rested and remains one of the most dangerous hard-court players on tour. If he settles into the conditions early, he has every chance of making another deep run.
Felix Auger-Aliassime
Auger-Aliassime will have the backing of the home crowd and arrives after another encouraging season. His hard-court numbers have been solid throughout the year, and the conditions should suit his powerful game. The biggest question is whether he can finally translate that form into a breakthrough run at Masters 1000 level.
Andrey Rublev
Rublev has enjoyed success in Montreal before, finishing runner-up in 2024, and possesses the firepower to trouble anyone on hard courts. Much will depend on whether he can rediscover his best tennis during the fortnight, but if he does, he has the experience and quality to challenge for the title once again.
How to Watch – ATP Canadian Open 2026
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How to Watch on bet365:
- Register a bet365 account
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- Go to the Live Streaming section
- Select ATP Canadian Open and start watching live
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