2026 National Bank Open Day 1 Recap: Qualifiers Shine as Action Begins

The 2026 National Bank Open presented by Rogers officially kicked off on Saturday, August 1, with a high-stakes, action-packed opening day. Fans turned out in large numbers in both Montreal (hosting the men’s ATP Tour event) and Toronto (hosting the women’s WTA Tour event) as players fought through the final round of qualifying to earn their coveted places in the main draw.

From incredible underdog victories and heroic comebacks to world-class star appearances and family-friendly fan activities, Day 1 delivered everything a tennis enthusiast could ask for. Here is a comprehensive recap of all the action on and off the court across both cities.

• => Daily Order of Play and Results
• => WTA Toronto Prize Money
• => ATP Montreal Prize Money

Part 1: Men’s Action in Montreal – Canadian Magic & Former Champions Advance

In Montreal, the 96-player main draw field was officially completed after 16 players battled their way through Saturday’s final qualifying matches. The day featured a brilliant mix of seasoned champions returning to form, strong performances from international contingents, and a monumental story for local tennis fans.

The Highlight of the Day: Duncan Chan’s Dream Debut

The absolute shocker and story of the day came courtesy of 21-year-old Canadian wild card Duncan Chan. Hailing from Markham and ranked No. 601 in the world, Chan pulled off a stunning upset over France’s Hugo Gaston, the No. 5 seed in qualifying and world No. 90.

Despite battling through eight double faults and losing his serve four times, Chan displayed extraordinary resilience. He converted 5 of his 13 break-point opportunities, fighting back from losing the opening set to defeat Gaston 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 in a grueling two-hour-and-five-minute battle. The emotional victory earned Chan a place in his very first career ATP Tour main draw, where he will face Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante in the opening round.

[WC] Duncan Chan (CAN) def. [5] Hugo Gaston (FRA)
Score: 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 | Match Time: 2h 05m

Champions Hold Firm: Popyrin & Tsitsipas Secure Spots

Two of the biggest names in the qualifying draw made sure they didn’t fall prey to early upsets:

• Alexei Popyrin (Australia): The 2024 National Bank Open champion, seeded No. 10 in qualifying, led an impressive Aussie contingent. Facing countryman Thanasi Kokkinakis, Popyrin was dominant on serve—striking seven aces, winning 92% (22/24) of his first-serve points, and dropping just seven points across seven service games. Kokkinakis was forced to retire due to a back injury with Popyrin leading 6-4, 2-3, handing Popyrin a spot in the main draw against Roman Andrea Burruchaga.
• Stefanos Tsitsipas (Greece): Riding momentum from his 13th career ATP title win in Gstaad two weeks prior, the 2018 Montreal finalist delivered a clinical service performance against 20-year-old Regina native Keegan Rice. Tsitsipas won 25 of 27 first-serve points (93%) and saved the only break point he faced to notch a smooth 6-3, 6-4 victory.

Australia, France, and USA Lead the Qualifying Charge

Australia dominated qualifying overall, sending four players into the main draw:

1. Alexei Popyrin (def. Thanasi Kokkinakis)
2. [8] Adam Walton (def. Canadian Justin Boulais 7-5, 7-6(4))
3. [12] Aleksandar Vukic (def. Tomas Barrios Vera 7-6(4), 6-2)
4. [22] Christopher O’Connell (def. [2] Jaime Faria 6-7(8), 6-2, 6-4)

France and the United States followed closely behind, placing three qualifiers each into the main draw:

• The French Trio: Titouan Droguet came back against Dalibor Svrcina (4-6, 6-3, 6-4); Kyrian Jacquet shocked No. 4 seed Aleksandar Shevchenko (4-6, 6-4, 6-3); and No. 9 seed Benjamin Bonzi swept past Bolivia’s Hugo Dellien (7-5, 6-2).
• The American Trio: No. 3 seed Marcos Giron charged back after a slow start to beat Spain’s Pablo Llamas Ruiz (2-6, 6-3, 6-1); Martin Damm hammered 13 aces in a 6-3, 7-6(3) victory over Henrique Rocha; and former two-time NCAA champion Michael Zheng produced a dazzling performance to dismantle former World No. 4 Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-1 in just 64 minutes.

Other Notable Montreal Qualifying Results

• [7] Sho Shimabukuro (JPN) d. [27] Nicolai Budkov Kjaer (NOR) 6-3, 6-4
• [13] Jacob Fearnley (GBR) d. [21] Sebastian Ofner (AUT) 7-6(3), 6-2
• [14] Shintaro Mochizuki (JPN) d. [19] Dane Sweeny (AUS) 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-3
• [24] Nicolas Mejia (COL) d. [6] Marco Trungelliti (ARG) 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-1

Part 2: Women’s Action in Toronto – Heartbreak, Comebacks & Star Power

Over at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto, thousands of fans packed the stands for a day filled with intense qualifying finals alongside off-court entertainment. While Canadian wild cards fought fiercely on home soil, veteran Grand Slam champions experienced contrasting fortunes.

Heartbreak for Young Canadian Contenders

It was a tough Saturday for local Canadian hopefuls aiming to punch their tickets into the main draw:

• Isabella Marton: The 18-year-old, who earned her spot via a pre-qualifying tournament, found veteran experience too much to handle as she lost 6-1, 6-4 to 38-year-old Tatjana Maria. Maria, a 2022 Wimbledon semifinalist, used her deep tour experience to dictate play.
• Avery Alexander: The 16-year-old ranked No. 1253 fell short in her do-or-die match against Polina Kudermetova, dropping a competitive 6-4, 6-4 decision.
• Ana Grubor: The 22-year-old came agonizingly close to making her first WTA main draw. Facing top-seeded Maya Joint, Grubor battled into a third-set tiebreaker and even held a match point at 7-6. However, Joint showed nerves of steel, reeling off three consecutive points to snatch the match and the main draw slot.

Grand Slam Champions: Stephens Prevails, Kenin & Zheng Fall Short

• Sloane Stephens: The former US Open champion displayed her trademark fighting spirit. After dropping the opening set to Harriet Dart, Stephens stormed back with dominance to secure a 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 victory and her place in the main draw.
• Sofia Kenin: The 2020 Australian Open champion could not pull off a similar comeback, succumbing to Lucrezia Stefanini in three sets (7-5, 1-6, 6-2).
• Qinwen Zheng: The former World No. 4 and Olympic gold medalist continues her difficult comeback journey following elbow surgery in July 2025. Ranked No. 123 coming into the week, Zheng fell in her qualifier to Lanlana Tararudee.

Fan Festivities: 407 ETR Family Weekend & Off-Court Fun

Beyond the baseline, both venues proved that the National Bank Open is just as much about the fan experience as it is about elite world-class tennis.

In Toronto, the 407 ETR Family Weekend kept families entertained throughout the day with interactive games, character appearances, caricatures, and skills tests. Highlight moments included:

• Leylah Annie Fernandez joining fans at lunchtime for a joyful “finish-the-lyric” singing session on site.
• Bianca Andreescu taking over the Tennis Canada Main Stage to help lead an afternoon relaxation yoga class.
• Superstar Appearances: Fans enjoyed intimate Q&A and autograph sessions with the sport’s biggest stars, including World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, two-time Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff, and 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys.

Look Ahead: Main Draw Matchups to Watch

With qualifying wrapped up, the stage is set for main draw action to commence on Sunday. Here is a look at key match-ups for the qualifiers in the Montreal main draw:

Top Half Highlights

• [Q] Duncan Chan (CAN) vs. Thiago Agustin Tirante (ARG)
• Hubert Hurkacz (POL) vs. [Q] Marcos Giron (USA)
• [Q] Martin Damm (USA) vs. [Q] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)
• [Q] Alexei Popyrin (AUS) vs. Roman Andrea Burruchaga (ARG)

Bottom Half Highlights

• [WC] Gabriel Diallo (CAN) vs. [Q] Kyrian Jacquet (FRA)
• [Q] Sho Shimabukuro (JPN) vs. Marin Cilic (CRO)
• [Q] Michael Zheng (USA) vs. Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB)
• James Duckworth (AUS) vs. [Q] Christopher O’Connell (AUS)

With electric crowds, rising homegrown talent, and established global superstars ready to compete, the 2026 National Bank Open is officially underway!