The National Bank Open’s round of 16 arrives with the spotlight split between Montreal and Toronto. By the end of the weekend, only eight men and eight women will still be alive in the chase for the title.
Unexpected exits have already changed the shape of the men’s event, while the women’s field has mostly held firm. That contrast sets up a high-stakes Saturday and Sunday, with Canada’s lone surviving singles hope still in the mix.
Match Times and Schedule
The round of 16 is set for Saturday, August 8, and Sunday, August 9, 2026. Montreal and Toronto will both stage day and evening sessions across the two days.
- Montreal day session: 12:30 p.m.
- Montreal evening session: 6 p.m.
- Toronto day session: 12:30 p.m.
- Toronto evening session: 7 p.m.
IGA Stadium will host the men in Montreal, while Toronto will handle the women’s side. Each site will produce four quarterfinalists over the weekend, and the next round begins Monday, August 10, and Tuesday, August 11.
Because the order of play can shift with match length and weather, the schedule is usually confirmed one day at a time.
Montreal’s Men’s Draw Has Become Unpredictable
The men’s bracket has already taken several sharp turns. Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, and Andrey Rublev were all eliminated early, and Félix Auger-Aliassime withdrew with a back injury before he could start his campaign.
That left the draw far more open than expected. Six of the top 10 seeds were already gone before the second round was complete, which creates a very different picture for the rest of the field.
Ben Shelton still looks like one of the clearest threats. The defending champion opened with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Jenson Brooksby and continues to look well suited to the fast courts in Montreal.
Casper Ruud also enters the conversation after a sharp 6-1, 6-2 win over Juan Manuel Cerúndolo. While hard courts are not his best-known surface, he has enough experience now to be more than a dark horse in this setting.
Players Benefiting From the Chaos
The early upsets have opened the door for several younger names to push deeper into the event. A few of them have already shown they can handle top-level pressure.
- João Fonseca shocked Stefanos Tsitsipas in one of the most notable wins of the opening rounds.
- Arthur Fils advanced in three sets and brings the kind of athleticism that fits Montreal’s conditions.
- Tallon Griekspoor followed his win over Zverev with the confidence of a player who now believes the draw is there to be taken.
Fonseca’s power and poise have made him one of the most watchable players in the tournament. Fils adds speed, variety, and a willingness to attack, while Griekspoor has already proven he can absorb pressure and keep moving forward after a big upset.
For all three, the chance is simple: one more good match could turn an impressive week into a real quarterfinal run.
Toronto’s Top Women Are Still Standing
The women’s draw has been steadier, and the biggest names have mostly advanced without drama. Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, and Mirra Andreeva all moved on, keeping the top of the bracket intact.
Sabalenka remains the player everyone else is chasing. She started with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Moyuka Uchijima and extended her hard-court winning streak to 13 matches. Her serve and first-strike power fit Toronto’s conditions well, and she also has ranking pressure in her favor.
Rybakina was pushed harder by Daria Kasatkina, but she still emerged 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 after two hours and 33 minutes. The match showed both sides of her game: elite pace when she is clean, and too many errors when her timing slips.
Pegula needed the longest climb of the group. After dropping the first set to Magdalena Frech, she recovered to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 and once again showed why she has been so reliable in Canada.
Gauff handled qualifier Kayla Day 6-2, 7-5, and Andreeva was even more efficient, rolling past Karolina Pliskova 6-0, 6-2 in just 54 minutes.
Canada’s Last Singles Hope
Leylah Fernandez is now carrying the home-country spotlight on her own. She defeated Renata Zarazúa 6-2, 6-2 in front of the Toronto crowd and became the final Canadian left in either singles draw.
Her next challenge is Elise Mertens, a seasoned opponent who knows how to extend points and punish lapses. Fernandez will need to stay aggressive if she wants to keep control of the match.
When she steps in early, takes time away, and uses her forehand to move opponents around the court, she can create real problems for anyone on tour. That said, the pressure is obvious: the rest of the Canadian singles lineup is already out, and the home crowd will expect her to keep the run going.
What Saturday and Sunday Should Reveal
This round should clarify whether the men’s event stays wide open or starts to settle around a few names. Shelton has the clearest title-defense case, Ruud has the tools to benefit from the chaos, and Fonseca, Fils, and Griekspoor have already shown enough to be taken seriously.
In Toronto, the story is different. Sabalenka, Rybakina, Pegula, Gauff, and Andreeva are not just trying to survive the weekend; they are trying to position themselves for a real push toward the title.
For fans in Canada, Fernandez is the main focus. If she can keep winning, the tournament stays locally meaningful even after the other Canadian hopes have faded.
Sportsnet and TVA Sports are carrying the National Bank Open in Canada, with coverage also available through their digital platforms. Fans checking the schedule should still verify the latest order of play before each session begins.