Canadian Open Guide: everything you need to know about one of tennis' oldest tournaments

The Canadian Open is one of the most historic and prestigious tournaments in professional tennis.

Known today as the National Bank Open, the event is part of the ATP Masters 1000 circuit and represents a crucial stage of the North American hard-court season. Positioned just weeks before the US Open, the tournament often provides the first clear indication of which players are ready to challenge for the final Grand Slam of the year.

Combining a rich history, elite competition and an important place in the ATP calendar, the Canadian Open has long been considered one of the defining tournaments of the summer hard-court swing.

For many players, success in Canada has served as a launching pad toward major achievements in New York and beyond.

Rogers Cup, Montreal (2009), image by Wikimedia , with license CC BY-SA 2.0

History of the Canadian Open

The Canadian Open is one of the oldest tennis tournaments in the world. The men’s event was first held in 1881, making it older than all Grand Slam tournaments except Wimbledon and the US Open.

Throughout its history, the tournament has welcomed many of the sport’s greatest champions and has evolved alongside professional tennis itself. Since the introduction of the ATP Masters 1000 category in 1990, the Canadian Open has remained one of the most important events outside the Grand Slams.

Its position in the calendar and its long tradition have helped establish it as a cornerstone of the ATP Tour.

Where is the Canadian Open played?

One of the tournament’s most distinctive features is its rotating host city. The men’s event alternates annually between:

  • Toronto;
  • Montreal.

When the ATP tournament is held in Toronto, the WTA event takes place in Montreal, and vice versa.

This unique format allows two of Canada’s largest cities to share hosting responsibilities while maintaining the tournament’s national identity.

The main venues include:

Sobeys Stadium (Toronto)

One of the largest tennis facilities in North America, featuring a stadium court capable of hosting more than 12,000 spectators.

IGA Stadium (Montreal)

A modern venue that has hosted numerous memorable matches and ATP Masters 1000 finals.

Canadian Open surface and playing conditions

The Canadian Open is played on outdoor hard courts.

Key characteristics include:

  • Medium-fast court speed;
  • Consistent bounce;
  • Conditions similar to the US Open.

Because of its place in the calendar, the tournament serves as a critical preparation event for players targeting success in New York. The summer heat and occasionally humid conditions can create physically demanding matches, particularly during the later rounds.

Historically, aggressive baseliners and strong servers have enjoyed considerable success on Canadian hard courts.

Tournament format

As an ATP Masters 1000 event, the Canadian Open features one of the strongest draws outside the Grand Slams.

Singles competition

  • 56-player main draw;
  • Seven rounds;
  • Best-of-three-set matches.

Other events

  • Men’s doubles;
  • Qualifying competition;
  • Junior and exhibition activities during tournament week.

Like all Masters 1000 tournaments, the event attracts many of the world’s highest-ranked players.

ATP ranking points

The Canadian Open awards the standard ATP Masters 1000 points distribution:

  • Winner: 1,000 points
  • Runner-up: 650 points;
  • Semi-finals: 400 points;
  • Quarter-finals: 200 points;
  • Round of 16: 100 points;
  • Round of 32: 50 points;
  • Qualifiers: 20 points.

These points can significantly influence the ATP Rankings and the Race to Turin.

Why the Canadian Open matters

The Canadian Open occupies one of the most important positions in the ATP calendar.

Strong performances often:

  • Build momentum for the US Open;
  • Improve ATP Rankings;
  • Boost ATP Finals qualification hopes;
  • Demonstrate hard-court form against elite opposition.

Because it is the first Masters 1000 event of the North American summer, the tournament frequently shapes the narrative heading into the final Grand Slam of the season.

Many future US Open champions have first announced their intentions with deep runs in Canada.

Records and legendary champions

The Canadian Open has been won by many of the greatest players in tennis history.

Most men’s singles titles

  • Ivan Lendl: 6 titles (1980-1989);
  • Rafael Nadal: 5 titles (2005-2019);
  • Novak Djokovic: 4 titles (2007-2016);
  • Andy Murray: 3 titles (2009-2015);
  • Andre Agassi: 3 titles (1992-1995).

Notable achievements

Ivan Lendl’s six titles remain the tournament record in the Open Era and highlight his remarkable dominance during the 1980s.

Rafael Nadal’s five titles make him the most successful active-era champion of the modern ATP generation.

Novak Djokovic has repeatedly used Canada as a springboard toward successful hard-court campaigns and Grand Slam runs.

Memorable Canadian Open champions

Over the years, the tournament has crowned some of the biggest names in tennis.

Notable champions include:

  • Ivan Lendl;
  • John McEnroe;
  • Andre Agassi;
  • Pete Sampras;
  • Roger Federer;
  • Rafael Nadal;
  • Novak Djokovic;
  • Andy Murray;
  • Jannik Sinner.

The diversity of champions reflects the tournament’s importance across multiple generations.

Canadian Open and the road to the US Open

Few tournaments influence the US Open as directly as the Canadian Open. The similarities in surface and conditions make it one of the most valuable preparation events of the season.

Players often arrive seeking:

  • Match rhythm;
  • Ranking points;
  • Confidence;
  • Tactical adjustments before New York.

Historically, many players who performed well in Canada went on to make deep runs at the US Open just weeks later. As a result, analysts frequently view the Canadian Open as one of the strongest indicators of Grand Slam form.

Canadian Open vs other Masters 1000 tournaments

Compared to other ATP Masters 1000 events, the Canadian Open occupies a unique position.

Compared with Indian Wells

  • Faster courts;
  • More aggressive playing style;
  • Closer to US Open conditions.

Compared with Miami

  • Less humidity;
  • Slightly quicker courts;
  • Different scheduling dynamics.

Compared with Cincinnati

  • Earlier in the summer swing;
  • Often serves as the first major hard-court test after Wimbledon.

Together with Cincinnati, it forms the backbone of the North American hard-court season.

The Canadian Open in the modern era

The tournament has continued to grow in stature throughout the modern ATP era.

Increased global coverage, stronger fields and major investments in facilities have helped maintain its position among the most respected tournaments on the calendar. Despite these changes, its identity remains unchanged.

The Canadian Open continues to blend history, elite competition and preparation for the sport’s biggest hard-court stage.

Conclusion

The Canadian Open is far more than a warm-up tournament before the US Open. It is one of the oldest events in tennis, a prestigious ATP Masters 1000 tournament and a key chapter in the ATP season. Its history, champions and strategic importance have made it a favourite among players and fans alike.

For anyone following the ATP Tour, understanding the Canadian Open means understanding one of the most important stops on the road to the US Open and the climax of the hard-court season.

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