Entry List WTA Canadian Open Montreal 2025: Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff lead top seeds, as Swiatek eyes hardcourt

🎾 Top Seeds & Star Power

Leading the field at the National Bank Open – Montreal (July 27 to Aug 7) are Aryna Sabalenka (No. 1) and Coco Gauff (No. 2), making them the tournament’s top two seeds. Also in the top four are Jessica Pegula (No. 3), the two-time defending champion in Toronto, and Iga Świątek (No. 4), fresh off her Wimbledon win and ready to transition her grass‑court success onto hard courts.

This powerhouse lineup marks one of the strongest fields ever assembled at a WTA 1000 event. In total, six players from the world’s top 10 will be debuting their hard‑court season in Montreal—including notable names like Jasmine Paolini, Qinwen Zheng, Mirra Andreeva, Madison Keys, Paula Badosa, and Emma Navarro.

🧭 Players to Watch

• Aryna Sabalenka arrives with formidable momentum: multiple Grand Slam titles already in 2025, including Miami, Madrid, and Roland‑Garros, though Montreal remains one of the elusive WTA 1000 titles missing from her résumé.

• Coco Gauff, fresh off a second major singles title at Roland‑Garros (defeating Sabalenka in the final), looks to assert her dominance on this hard‑court swing—Montreal being one of the few trophies still missing from her cabinet.

• Jessica Pegula brings championship pedigree, having won the Canadian/Toronto event back‑to‑back, and aims to become the first player in nearly 30 years to claim three straight titles in this tournament.

• Iga Świątek, the current Wimbledon champion, is banking on her confidence to carry over to hard courts. With six WTA 1000 titles on hard surfaces already, she’s a serious contender.

🌟 Rising & Returning Talent

The draw features an array of high-profile contenders:

• Mirra Andreeva (No. 7) will make her Montreal debut following back‑to‑back WTA 1000 wins in Dubai and Indian Wells, showcasing her rapid ascent.

• Established players like Madison Keys, Paula Badosa, and Emma Navarro also add depth and intrigue after strong early-season performances.

🇨🇦 Local Stars & Tournament Format

Canadian tennis fans will celebrate homegrown talents:

• Leylah Annie Fernandez returns for her sixth appearance, maintaining a strong presence at her home WTA 1000.

• Wild cards have been granted to Victoria Mboko (No. 97) and former champion Bianca Andreescu (No. 148), spotlighting up-and-coming and comeback storylines.

Notably, 2025 marks the debut of the expanded 12‑day format and a 96‑player main draw, enhancing fan experience with more matches and deeper engagement.

🏆 What’s at Stake

• Canadian Open remains the last big tune-up before the US Open at season’s end.

• The tournament marks a significant step in Tennis Canada’s Game. Set. Equity. initiative, with female prize money rising to nearly 60 % of the ATP purse—and full parity expected by 2027.

🔍 Bottom line:

Montreal is set to host a stellar and deeply competitive WTA 1000 draw, headlined by powerhouses Sabalenka and Gauff, with Pegula and Świątek adding to the star power. Rising talents, homegrown favorites, and sweeping format/financial upgrades all contribute to what promises to be one of the most thrilling editions yet.