Welcome to the Road to the National Bank Open. Every week, we will keep you updated on all the action on the WTA Tour as we build towards the National Bank Open presented by Rogers in Toronto, which takes place from Aug. 8 to 14.
DAYS UNTIL THE NATIONAL BANK OPEN: 18
What’s better than one Williams sister playing at the National Bank Open in Toronto?
How about two?
Venus will be joining Serena at Sobeys Stadium in a few weeks after accepting a wild card to return to WTA singles action for the first time since last August in Chicago. This also marks the first time since Wimbledon in 2021 that both sisters will play singles in the same tournament.
The 42-year-old, a finalist at the National Bank Open in 2014, is a former World No. 1, a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, an Olympic gold medalist and the winner of 41 WTA singles titles during her illustrious career.
Venus began her long-awaited comeback in mixed doubles at Wimbledon last month playing alongside Jamie Murray. The pair reached the second round at the All-England Club.
ON-COURT ACTION:
HAMBURG
Hamburg, Germany is hosting a combined ATP/WTA 500 event this week on red clay. The women’s draw has reached the quarter-final stage and features a marquee matchup between top-seeded Anett Kontaveit and German Andrea Petkovic. Barbora Krejcikova, last year’s French Open champion, also remains in title contention.
PALERMO
Leading the way at the WTA 250 clay court event in Palermo, Italy are Caroline Garcia, Yulia Putintseva, and Sara Sorribes Tormo.
STORIES TO WATCH:
OSAKA AWARDED SAN JOSE WILD CARD
Naomi Osaka will kick off her summer hard court season in San Jose, California after accepting a wild card to play the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic, a WTA 500 event held the week prior to the National Bank Open where she is also slated to compete. Osaka hasn’t played since Roland-Garros this spring and recently split from her coach, Wim Fissette.
MADISON KEYS GIVES BACK
Madison Keys extended her grass court season for a good cause. She recently headlined a charity event in Iowa which raised money for Keys’ non-profit organization “Kindness Wins,” as well as the non-profit All Iowa Lawn Tennis Club Foundation. The event featured a panel discussion by Keys and others about the importance of mental health awareness and acts of kindness in sports at all levels, as well as a junior clinic.
OFF-COURT BUZZ:
Polish power! World No. 1 Iga Świątek and her compatriot, former world no. 2 Agnieszka Radwanska, are getting ready for a charity event to support Ukraine on Saturday. Elina Svitolina and Sergiy Stakhovsky will also take part in Swiatek’s admirable initiative.
Congratulations to Maria Sharapova and her fiancé Alexander Gilkes on the birth of their first child, a boy named Theodore!
Don’t miss your chance to see the best WTA players up close this summer. Get your tickets now!
