Toronto draw: Rybakina, Osaka & Gauff, Noskova could meet in last 8
The National Bank Open draw in Toronto is finalized, setting the stage for a competitive week on the hard courts. While defending champion Victoria Mboko is sidelined due to injury, the field remains packed with top talent. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka leads a group of 11 Grand Slam champions, including Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, and Wimbledon winner Linda Noskova. All eyes are on the top section of the bracket, where Sabalenka is poised for a potential quarterfinal collision with past champion Elina Svitolina.
In the second quarter, two-time defending champion Jessica Pegula looks to continue her success on home soil. She is projected to face Marta Kostyuk in the quarterfinals, a matchup that highlights the growth of a notable rivalry on tour. The third quarter features Coco Gauff and Linda Noskova as potential quarterfinal rivals, promising a high-stakes meeting between two of the game's brightest young stars. Both players enter the tournament with recent momentum from their performances at Wimbledon.
Rounding out the draw, Elena Rybakina and Naomi Osaka anchor the bottom quarter. Osaka seeks to build on her success from the previous hard-court swing, while Rybakina looks to finish her 2026 campaign on a high note. Main draw play kicks off on Sunday, August 2, following a day of qualifying matches on Saturday. Fans can expect significant shifts in the race to the WTA Finals as players chase crucial points ahead of the US Open. The full schedule of first-round matches features several intriguing battles, including Bianca Andreescu against Nikola Bartunkova and a test for Sara Bejlek against Wang Xiyu.