The final knockings of the 2024
Canadian Open (National Bank Open/Omnium Banque Nationale) are set with semi-finals the order of the day on Sunday. With the
schedule confirmed, our
preview looks ahead to the action.
From Montreal which will see two of the semi-finalists play catch up to Toronto where the ties are all set in the semi-finals, a champion will be crowned on Monday going into another busy week in Cincinnati.
Sinner ousted but Rublev and Zverev remain
Jannik Sinner was defeated in the Last 16 by
Andrey Rublev in an ailing display from the World No.1 who was returning amid recent illness struggles. While he got some good match practice in, he will wonder about what could've been albeit heading to Cincinnati earlier and getting ready for that tournament with vital matches is likely the configuration in his head.
Now Rublev continues into the semi-final and it is the only one thus far that is set. He faces off against Matteo Arnaldi who saw off Kei Nishikori and halted his resurgence in the last round after also defeating Alejandro Davidovich Fokina yesterday. Albeit, it is Quarter-Final action which is first on the slate in Montreal.
Sebastian Korda who benefited from Casper Ruud's withdrawal after already beating Taylor Fritz yesterday also got a walkover against Vasek Pospisil in Round One so he has played only two sets of tennis this week. He faces
Alexander Zverev who confounded the recent misery for Holger Rune as they finally faced off.
While Hubert Hurkacz plays in the other Quarter-Final. He takes on Alexei Popyrin. The Pole has had a superb week especially given that he was a doubt to play due to injury sustained at Wimbledon. But he has had a run to the Quarter-Finals at least and faces Popyrin who like Arnaldi will look to be the spoiler remaining in the draw to halt the progression of the big names.
Recent Winners and Finals (Men's Singles):
- 2023: Jannik Sinner (Italy)Final: Jannik Sinner def. Alex de Minaur (Australia) 6-4, 6-1
- Final: Jannik Sinner def. Alex de Minaur (Australia) 6-4, 6-1
- 2022: Pablo Carreño Busta (Spain)Final: Pablo Carreño Busta def. Hubert Hurkacz (Poland) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
- Final: Pablo Carreño Busta def. Hubert Hurkacz (Poland) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
- 2021: Daniil Medvedev (Russia)Final: Daniil Medvedev def. Reilly Opelka (USA) 6-4, 6-3
- Final: Daniil Medvedev def. Reilly Opelka (USA) 6-4, 6-3
- 2020: (Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic)
- 2019: Rafael Nadal (Spain)Final: Rafael Nadal def. Daniil Medvedev (Russia) 6-3, 6-0
- Final: Rafael Nadal def. Daniil Medvedev (Russia) 6-3, 6-0
- 2018: Rafael Nadal (Spain)Final: Rafael Nadal def. Stefanos Tsitsipas (Greece) 6-2, 7-6(4)
- Final: Rafael Nadal def. Stefanos Tsitsipas (Greece) 6-2, 7-6(4)
- 2017: Alexander Zverev (Germany)Final: Alexander Zverev def. Roger Federer (Switzerland) 6-3, 6-4
- Final: Alexander Zverev def. Roger Federer (Switzerland) 6-3, 6-4
- 2016: Novak Djokovic (Serbia)Final: Novak Djokovic def. Kei Nishikori (Japan) 6-3, 7-5
- Final: Novak Djokovic def. Kei Nishikori (Japan) 6-3, 7-5
- 2015: Andy Murray (United Kingdom)Final: Andy Murray def. Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
- Final: Andy Murray def. Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
- 2014: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France)Final: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga def. Roger Federer (Switzerland) 7-5, 7-6(3)
- Final: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga def. Roger Federer (Switzerland) 7-5, 7-6(3)
Overview:
- Rafael Nadal has been a dominant force at the Canadian Open, securing multiple titles in recent years.
- The tournament has also seen victories from rising stars such as Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev, as well as established champions like Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.
- The Canadian Open alternates yearly between Montreal and Toronto, making it a unique event in the ATP calendar.
Schedule Montreal
20:00 | Popyrin A. | 0 |
| Hurkacz H. (4) | 3 |
20:00 | Korda S. | 0 |
| Zverev A. (2) | 0 |
23:00 | Rublev A. (5) | 1 |
| Arnaldi M. | 1 |
Followed by Popyrin/Hurkacz v Korda/Zverev
American dream continues in Toronto
As was dubbed on social media, the line-up for the latter stages in Toronto was Americans v neutral Russians. Only one of those neutral Russians remain and it is looking likely we may get an American winner.
The first semi-final in particular courts intrigue as Emma Navarro who is eighth seed has bounced back supremely from her Olympic Games disappointment and also her outburst at Qinwen Zheng in the aftermath. She has been well known for stacking up wins and titles and could claim her biggest yet this weekend.
Albeit she faces a player on the rise again in
Amanda Anisimova. The former World No.21 at only 22 returned earlier this year after some time away from the sport for mental health reasons and fatigue. It hasn't gone to plan thus far for her with the American not getting the results and running out of protected rankings.
But she has really shown that the game is still very much there for her. She saw off Aryna Sabalenka in a very good match-up for her and one she now leads 6-2 in the Head to Head against the second seed. She also leads her Head to Head with Navarro 1-0 too so perhaps holds the edge based also on resurgence factor.
![Awesome Amanda Anisimova continues to impress.](https://r.testifier.nl/Acbs8526SDKI/resizing_type:fit/watermark:Picture%3A%20IMAGO/width:1280/plain/https://s3-newsifier.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/tennisuptodate.com/images/2023-12/anisimovadubai3-imago1024544508h-65914bf66e43d.jpg@webp)
Awesome Amanda Anisimova continues to impress.
Then it is the turn of the only Russian left in the draw waiting and that is
Diana Shnaider who continues to impress. She saw off Liudmila Samsonova after taking down Coco Gauff and now has the second half of the doubles tandem in her sights.
That being the defending champion,
Jessica Pegula who will now be the favourite to join a select group of back-to-back champions in Canada. She would've also completed both halves of the Canadian double as she would've won in both Montreal and Toronto.
Pegula took down Peyton Stearns in the last round 6-4, 7-5 and now takes on Shnaider who continues to grow also amid likely jet lag from playing late at the Olympic Games, she continues to gain ranking points and could yet seal her biggest title in the same week as silver medal success. A player who many see as a top 10 likelihood, she will aim to claim a second top 10 win of the week against Pegula later on Sunday.
Recent Winners and Finals (Women's Singles):
- 2023: Jessica Pegula (USA)Final: Jessica Pegula def. Liudmila Samsonova (Russia) 6-1, 6-0
- Final: Jessica Pegula def. Liudmila Samsonova (Russia) 6-1, 6-0
- 2022: Simona Halep (Romania)Final: Simona Halep def. Beatriz Haddad Maia (Brazil) 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
- Final: Simona Halep def. Beatriz Haddad Maia (Brazil) 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
- 2021: Camila Giorgi (Italy)Final: Camila Giorgi def. Karolína Plíšková (Czech Republic) 6-3, 7-5
- Final: Camila Giorgi def. Karolína Plíšková (Czech Republic) 6-3, 7-5
- 2020: (Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic)
- 2019: Bianca Andreescu (Canada)Final: Bianca Andreescu won by walkover after Serena Williams (USA) retired due to back injury
- Final: Bianca Andreescu won by walkover after Serena Williams (USA) retired due to back injury
- 2018: Simona Halep (Romania)Final: Simona Halep def. Sloane Stephens (USA) 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-4
- Final: Simona Halep def. Sloane Stephens (USA) 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-4
- 2017: Elina Svitolina (Ukraine)Final: Elina Svitolina def. Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) 6-4, 6-0
- Final: Elina Svitolina def. Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) 6-4, 6-0
- 2016: Simona Halep (Romania)Final: Simona Halep def. Madison Keys (USA) 7-6(2), 6-3
- Final: Simona Halep def. Madison Keys (USA) 7-6(2), 6-3
- 2015: Belinda Bencic (Switzerland)Final: Belinda Bencic def. Simona Halep (Romania) 7-6(5), 6-7(4), 3-0 (Halep retired)
- Final: Belinda Bencic def. Simona Halep (Romania) 7-6(5), 6-7(4), 3-0 (Halep retired)
- 2014: Agnieszka Radwańska (Poland)Final: Agnieszka Radwańska def. Venus Williams (USA) 6-4, 6-2
- Final: Agnieszka Radwańska def. Venus Williams (USA) 6-4, 6-2
Schedule Toronto
19:00 | Navarro E. (8) | 0 |
| Anisimova A. | 1 |
00:00 | Shnaider D. (14) | 0 |
| Pegula J. (3) | 0 |