Toronto: Andreescu’s opener at National Bank Open rescheduled to Monday

By Liam Tremblay — 3 August 2026 — 3 min read

Andreescu’s Return and Tournament Schedule

Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 National Bank Open (NBO) champion, is set to begin her tournament play on Monday after her originally scheduled Sunday match was postponed. The Mississaugan player’s opening match against Czech Nikola Bartunkova will now take place on Monday on Centre Court. This marks Andreescu’s return to the tournament where she achieved a significant victory in 2019.

The National Bank Open, a WTA 1000 tournament, features a 12-day format with 96 competitors in the main draw. This year’s event in Toronto includes all five of the tour’s top-ranked players, such as world No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam winner Aryna Sabalenka. Other notable participants include Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, and Mirra Andreeva.

Andreescu, currently ranked 174th, will face Bartunkova, who is ranked 41st on the WTA Tour. Andreescu has been managing injuries for five years and has also taken time off for mental health. She has recently played in lower-tier events and went through qualifying rounds for tour-level events, including Wimbledon this year. Her last competitive match was a first-round loss at Wimbledon.

Canadian Players in Action

Several other Canadian players will also be competing on Monday. Kayla Cross, a London, ON-native and winner of the Road to the NBO, will open Centre Court play against Katie Boulter. Cross made her WTA 1000 main-draw debut last year and recently secured a title in Granby.

Vancouverite Rebecca Marino is scheduled to play against world No. 52 Zeynep Sonmez on Centre Court, not before 7 p.m. Marino, a two-time Tennis Canada Female Player of the Year, will be playing her first WTA Tour match since September. Cadence Brace will make her WTA 1000 debut on Grandstand against McCartney Kessler.

Carol Zhao will begin her final tournament before retiring from professional tennis after a 16-year career. The Richmond Hillian, who achieved a career-high ranking of No. 131 and won nine ITF titles, will face world No. 65 Magda Linette fourth on Grandstand. Zhao made her major debut by qualifying for the 2023 Wimbledon main draw.

Other matches postponed from Sunday due to rain delays and now scheduled for Monday include:

• Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) vs. Shuai Zhang (CHN)
• Elena-Gabriela Ruse (ROM) vs. Peyton Stearns (USA)
• Talia Gibson (AUS) vs. Elisabetta Cocciaretto (ITA)
• Rebecca Sramkova (SVK) vs. Anna Blinkova

Additionally, two matches will resume on Monday: Magdalena Frech and Leolia Jeanjean will continue from 4-all in the opening set, while Loïs Boisson leads Antonia Ruzic 5-3 in the first set.

Andreescu’s Journey and Perspective

Andreescu, who became the first Canadian in a half-century to win the country’s annual tennis showcase in 2019 at age 19, reflected on her journey. She noted that her focus now is on learning from past experiences and understanding her current self in 2026. Her memorable 2019 season included a U.S. Open victory less than a month after her National Bank Open win.

The 26-year-old has three career WTA 1000 wins, all from 2019. She has been studying psychology through the WTA‘s program at Indiana East University and has also engaged in meditation retreats, which she believes have helped her tennis. Andreescu emphasizes controlling effort and intention in her matches, rather than solely focusing on the scoreboard.

Leylah Fernandez, the only seeded Canadian at No. 30, has a bye to the second round. Victoria Mboko, who won the 2025 title in Montreal, will miss this year’s tournament due to a knee injury. Seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams will make her 13th appearance in Canada.

The National Bank Open runs from August 1 to 13 at Sobeys Stadium.

Source: nationalbankopen.com