The middle weekend of the 2026 National Bank Open will decide who stays alive in Montreal and Toronto. By Sunday night, only eight men and eight women will remain in the hunt for the title.

The men’s draw in Montreal has already turned chaotic, while the women’s side in Toronto is being shaped by the biggest names in the game. For Canadian fans, Leylah Fernandez is carrying the strongest local hope into the crucial round of 16.

When the round of 16 begins

The round of 16 in both draws is scheduled for Saturday, August 8, and Sunday, August 9, 2026.

Montreal matches will be played at Stade IGA, where daytime center court sessions begin at 12:30 p.m. and evening sessions start at 6:00 p.m. In Toronto, the daytime start time is also 12:30 p.m., with night sessions beginning at 7:00 p.m..

Each city will stage eight singles matches across the two days. Winners will move on to the quarterfinals, which are set for Monday, August 10, and Tuesday, August 11.

• The exact order of play is released the day before each session.
• Match length can shift the schedule from one day to the next.
• Weather and court time can also affect start times.

Montreal’s men’s draw has blown wide open

Few tournaments lose this many major seeds this quickly. Montreal has already seen Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, and Andrey Rublev exit early, while Félix Auger-Aliassime withdrew before his first singles match because of a back injury.

That has left the men’s event in a state of real uncertainty. Six of the top ten seeds were out before the second round was even complete, and the bracket suddenly looks much more reachable for the remaining players.

Ben Shelton is one of the clearest names to watch. The defending champion opened with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Jenson Brooksby and looked comfortable on Montreal’s fast hard courts. His serve and aggressive returning style can put constant pressure on opponents.

Casper Ruud is another player with a strong path forward. He started with a dominant 6-1, 6-2 win over Juan Manuel Cerúndolo. Although Ruud is best known for his work on clay, he has built enough experience on hard courts to take advantage of a draw that no longer has its biggest guards in place.

Players rising as the favorites fall

The shakeup has created space for younger or less established players to make a serious run. Several have already used the opening rounds to announce themselves.

• João Fonseca scored one of the loudest wins of the tournament by defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in a tight match.
• Arthur Fils advanced after a three-set victory over Zachary Svajda and continues to show the kind of athleticism that plays well in Montreal.
• Tallon Griekspoor stunned Zverev after dropping the first set, rallying to win 6-7, 6-2, 6-4.

Fonseca’s power and confidence have made him one of the most intriguing names left in the field. Fils brings speed and explosiveness, while Griekspoor now has the kind of momentum that can carry a player through an open section of the bracket.

In a draw this unsettled, belief matters almost as much as ranking. One statement win can change how a player sees the rest of the week.

Toronto’s top women are holding firm

The women’s draw has been far more predictable so far. Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, and Mirra Andreeva all moved through their opening matches and are still positioned as major contenders.

Sabalenka remains the player everyone else is chasing. The world No. 1 opened with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Moyuka Uchijima and extended her hard-court winning streak to 13 matches. Her power from the baseline and her first serve are ideal weapons on Toronto’s quick courts.

That win also moved her closer to protecting the top ranking after the tournament. If she keeps advancing, the pressure on the rest of the field will keep building with every round.

Rybakina, Gauff, Pegula, and Andreeva all stay dangerous

Elena Rybakina needed more time than Sabalenka, but her opening win still showed why she is a title threat. She defeated Daria Kasatkina 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in 2 hours and 33 minutes, finishing with 58 winners and 58 unforced errors.

That balance captures Rybakina’s game perfectly. When her serve lands and her timing is clean, she can overwhelm anyone. When the errors rise, however, she becomes vulnerable to a disciplined opponent.

Coco Gauff began with a 6-2, 7-5 win over qualifier Kayla Day. She was not always in full control of the rallies, but her speed, defense, and ability to reset points made the difference when the set tightened.

Jessica Pegula had to work even harder. She lost the opening set against Magdalena Frech before turning the match around for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 win. Pegula has a strong history in Canada, having won the tournament in 2023 and 2024, and her familiarity with the conditions gives her a real edge.

Mirra Andreeva may have produced the most impressive scoreline of all. The 19-year-old overpowered former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova 6-0, 6-2 in just 54 minutes. Her court sense, defensive coverage, and calm decision-making make her look far older than her age.

Andreeva’s quick adjustment to hard courts is especially significant. After winning her first major title on clay, she is now showing that her game can travel well to faster surfaces too.

Leylah Fernandez keeps Canada’s hopes alive

With the men’s singles draw now empty of Canadian players, Leylah Fernandez is the lone Canadian left in the singles competition. She earned that role by defeating Renata Zarazúa 6-2, 6-2 in front of a supportive crowd on center court.

Fernandez was sharp from the start. She dropped serve only once and broke Zarazúa five times, using early ball striking to keep the match on her terms.

Her next challenge is Elise Mertens, a seasoned opponent who can extend rallies and force a player to stay patient. That makes the matchup a useful test of Fernandez’s balance between aggression and control.

When Fernandez steps inside the baseline and opens the court with her forehand, she can trouble top-level opponents. The key for her will be repeating that pressure against a player who rarely gives away free points.

The stakes are also emotional. Fernandez entered the tournament as the last Canadian woman standing even before her first match, so every round from here will carry extra weight for the home crowd.

How to follow the action

Canadian viewers can watch the tournament on Sportsnet and TVA Sports, the official broadcasters of the National Bank Open. Both networks carry matches from Montreal and Toronto throughout the event.

Coverage is also available through each network’s digital platforms, which is useful when schedule changes push matches around. Because tennis sessions can run long, checking the daily order of play is the best way to avoid missing a key matchup.

The round of 16 should reveal whether this year’s tournament is headed for more surprises in Montreal or for a more familiar finish in Toronto. Either way, the next two days will narrow the field fast and likely produce the week’s most decisive matches.