The hard-court summer swings into high gear as the 2025 WTA Canadian Open, set to unfold at Montreal’s IGA Stadium from July 27 to August 7, promises an electrifying showcase of women’s tennis. Leading the charge are world No. 2 Coco Gauff and recent Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek, with a formidable field of top players, including the return of former US Open champion Emma Raducanu. The absence of world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, alongside other notable withdrawals, sets the stage for a fiercely competitive tournament, where rising stars and veterans alike vie for the prestigious WTA 1000 title.
Coco Gauff, fresh off her 2025 French Open triumph where she defeated Sabalenka in a thrilling 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 final, enters as the top seed. The 21-year-old American, who also claimed the 2023 US Open, is eager to rebound from a shock first-round exit at Wimbledon. “I think the first one [Grand Slam] was maybe more emotional, but this one was just harder because, you know, you win one, and you just don’t want to get satisfied with just that one,” Gauff reflected after her Roland Garros victory. Despite never advancing past the quarterfinals in Montreal, her 31-10 season record and powerful baseline game make her a formidable contender. Gauff’s recent clay-court success, including a second-round battle against Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko in Rome, highlights her adaptability, though she’s noted the challenge of transitioning back to North American hard courts post-Olympics.
Iga Swiatek, now ranked No. 5 after a 173-week run in the top two, returns as the second seed, aiming to reclaim her hard-court dominance. The Polish star, who clinched her sixth Grand Slam at Wimbledon 2025, has yet to win a title this year but boasts five semifinal appearances, including at the Australian Open and Roland Garros. Her 2024 Indian Wells victory over Maria Sakkari (6-4, 6-0) underscores her hard-court prowess, though a third-round loss to Danielle Collins in Rome ended her top-two streak. Swiatek’s emotional runner-up finish to Jessica Pegula at the 2025 Bad Homburg Open left her in tears, but she remains optimistic. “The 2025 National Bank Open will mark a turning point,” said Tournament Director Valérie Tétreault, echoing the excitement around Swiatek’s return. With 12 Grand Slam champions in the field, including 2022 Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina and 2017 champion Elina Svitolina, Swiatek faces stiff competition.
Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, marks her return to Montreal after missing recent events to focus on recovery. Now ranked No. 43, the Brit has shown flashes of brilliance, reaching the fourth round at Rome and notching her third career top-10 win. “The more I play Billie Jean King Cup, the more I enjoy it. The stakes are so high—but in a really relaxed and exciting way,” Raducanu said, hinting at her comfort in high-pressure settings. Her recent doubles partnership with Elena Rybakina in Washington and mixed doubles commitment with Grigor Dimitrov at the US Open signal her growing versatility. Raducanu’s direct entry into the main draw, secured by her ranking climb, positions her as a potential dark horse, especially after a Miami Open quarterfinal run that earned her $189,075 in 2025.
Jessica Pegula, the two-time defending champion, anchors the field as the third seed. The American, ranked No. 3, became the first woman since Martina Hingis in 2000 to win back-to-back Canadian Open titles, adding Charleston, Austin, and Bad Homburg to her 2025 resume. “The quality and depth of the women’s field this year is simply exceptional,” Tétreault noted, highlighting Pegula’s home-soil dominance. Mirra Andreeva, the world No. 6 and Indian Wells champion, is seeded fourth, followed by Amanda Anisimova, the 2024 finalist, and Madison Keys, the 2025 Australian Open winner. Jasmine Paolini, fresh off her historic Rome title, and Emma Navarro round out the top eight seeds, ensuring a deep and unpredictable draw.
Notable absences include Sabalenka, who cited fatigue after a heavy match load, Paula Badosa (injury), Zheng Qinwen (elbow surgery), Ons Jabeur (personal break), Donna Vekic, and Sonay Kartal. The tournament also marks a bittersweet farewell for Eugenie Bouchard, who received a wildcard for her final WTA event. “We are very honoured that Genie decided to retire at her home tournament,” Tétreault said, celebrating Bouchard’s 15th career appearance in Montreal. Additional wildcards, including the Road to the NBO winner, will be announced closer to the draw on July 26, with main-draw play kicking off July 27. The event’s push for gender equity, with WTA prize money nearing 60% of the ATP purse, adds further significance to this year’s competition.
With 68 of the world’s top players, including Naomi Osaka, Danielle Collins, and rising stars like Victoria Mboko, the 2025 Canadian Open promises surprises. Last year’s tournament saw Anisimova’s improbable run to the final, and with conditions known for favoring bold play, new champions could emerge. As Gauff, Swiatek, Raducanu, and Pegula prepare to battle, Montreal is set to deliver a thrilling chapter in the WTA’s hard-court saga.
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