Canada Day at the NBO: Denis Shapovalov receives first wild card and will play on Wednesday, August 7, along with compatriot Félix Auger-Aliassime
History is set to be made at IGA Stadium, as Tennis Canada today unveiled the entry list for the 2024 National Bank Open presented by Rogers (NBO) in Montreal. From August 3 to 12, the best talents on the ATP circuit, including all of the world’s top 43 players, will face off for a shot at lifting the prestigious NBO trophy.
“We are extremely excited to see what this year’s National Bank Open has in store for us,” said Valérie Tétreault, Tournament Director of the National Bank Open in Montreal. “Tennis on the ATP circuit is at a unique moment in its history, as we are witnessing more parity than ever before while discovering who will become the legends of our sports with this new generation of talented players. Since the beginning of the year, of the five Masters 1000 tournaments held, each has featured a different champion which shows that regardless of who steps up to the plate, we are certain that this great tennis city will be on the edge of its seats waiting for history to unfold.”
READ: WTA PLAYER LIST REVEALED FOR 2024 NATIONAL BANK OPEN IN TORONTO
World No. 1 and defending champion Jannik Sinner headlines the player field for the 2024 edition of the tournament. In 2023, three days shy of his 22nd birthday, the talented Italian won his first ATP 1000 title at the event in Toronto, defeating Australia’s Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-1 in the championship match. Since then, Sinner has led his country to a Davis Cup title, clinched a first Grand Slam crown at the 2024 Australian Open, and climbed to the very top of the world rankings.
Novak Djokovic, 24-time Grand Slam champion, is also on the entry list as the world No. 2. The 37-year-old Serb has claimed four titles in Canada and will be joined by fellow former champions Daniil Medvedev (No. 5), Germany’s Alexander Zverev (No. 4), and Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta, who has used his protected ranking of No. 18. Other notable names include three-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz (No. 3) ,21-year-old rising stars Ben Shelton (No. 14) of the USA and Denmark’s Holger Rune (No. 15), as well as past finalists Hubert Hurkacz (No. 7) of Poland, de Minaur (No. 9) and Stefanos Tsitsipas (No. 11) of Greece.
CANADA DAY AT THE NATIONAL BANK OPEN
Also announced, Montrealer Félix Auger-Aliassime (No. 17) will play his first-round match during the night session on Canada Day at the NBO, to be held on Wednesday, August 7. His compatriot, No. 121-ranked Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ontario, will also take to the courts on the day of Canadian celebration, as he is set to compete his opening-round match during the day session after obtaining a main draw wild card.
In addition to the top two Canadian players scheduled to appear on Wednesday’s order of play, Tennis Canada’s former Vice-President of High Performance, Louis Borfiga, will be honoured on Centre Court ahead of the night session to celebrate his induction into the Canadian Tennis Hall of Fame and the profound impact he has had on the development of tennis in Canada.
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For a complete list of players taking part in the Montreal event, click here.
Note that three more main draw wild cards will be announced closer to the start of the tournament.
READ: THE FIVE MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM THE NBO IN MONTRÉAL SINCE 2000
The official draw ceremony for the NBO in Montreal will take place at 4:30 p.m. Eastern on Saturday, August 3. Fans are reminded that, due to the Paris 2024 Olympics schedule, the NBO will start and end one day later than usual this year, with the first day of qualifying on Sunday, August 4, main draw due to commence on Tuesday, August 6, and the singles and doubles finals taking place on Monday, August 12.
IGA FAMILY WEEKEND IN ASSOCIATION WITH VIA RAIL CANADA AND KAMIK CANADA
With the fan experience being a priority for the NBO, the ever-popular IGA Family Weekend in association with VIA Rail Canada and Kamik Canada will return this year, running from August 3-5. Qualifying matches will be contested on August 4 and 5, while a full day of practices will be featured on August 3. Free admission is offered to all fans on these days, and a variety of family activities are organized on the grounds of IGA Stadium.
Of particular interest, the ball hockey game will be back, with the participation of not only ATP Tour players, but also PWHL and NHL stars. On August 3, fans won’t want to miss this brilliant marriage between tennis and hockey. Additionally, the Celebrity Tournament, featuring some of Quebec’s biggest personalities participating in a friendly tennis tournament, will be making a much-anticipated return. The opening round will take place on Sunday, August 4, with the finals taking place on Centre Court prior to opening night on Tuesday, August 6.
Participants for these events will be revealed closer to the start of the tournament. Further details regarding IGA Family Weekend will be announced in the coming weeks.
“It is such an important thing for us as a tournament to make tennis accessible to everyone, and IGA Family Weekend gives us the opportunity to do just that,” added Tétreault. “The off-court experience for fans can be just as exciting as the on-court action, and we make sure to showcase that to everyone who comes to the IGA Stadium grounds.”