Canada's Grand Slam — the National Bank Open (formerly Rogers Cup) is an ATP/WTA Masters 1000 tournament held every August in Toronto and Montreal alternating. The world's best players compete at Aviva Centre with Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Serena, and every top-10 player on the draw. Practice courts are free to attend.
Neighbourhood: North York / Aviva Centre · Address: Aviva Centre, York University, 1 Shoreham Dr, North York, ON · Hours: Event: August — check nationalbankopen.com
Why Visit
Catch tennis’s biggest names live at the National Bank Open, the highest-level tournament you’ll see outside of a Grand Slam. The energy at Aviva Centre during a late-round match is unreal—bring earplugs and sunscreen.
What Makes It Unique
This is the only event in Toronto where you’ll see ATP and WTA stars like Djokovic, Swiatek, and Alcaraz battling in person, often just before the US Open. Free access to practice courts means you can get ridiculously close to legends without a ticket—no comparable Toronto event offers that.
The National Bank Open at Aviva Centre in North York is Canada's biggest tennis tournament — a Masters 1000 level event for men and a WTA 1000 event for women (the two tournaments alternating between Toronto and Montreal on a yearly basis) that brings the world's top-ranked players to Toronto for a week of professional tennis in August. When the men's event is in Toronto, it means the entire top 10 — Djokovic, Alcaraz, Sinner, Medvedev, and the full elite field — competing at a world-class facility in North York that is significantly more accessible than any Grand Slam venue.
The Aviva Centre's stadium court (the Sobeys Stadium) holds approximately 12,500 spectators in a configuration where every seat provides good viewing — the compact dimensions of the facility mean that even upper concourse seats offer a comfortable view of professional tennis at a scale that the television experience of Grand Slam courts doesn't replicate. The intimacy of the Aviva Centre relative to Grand Slam venues is one of the National Bank Open's advantages: seeing Rafael Nadal's topspin from the third row of the stadium court was simply unavailable at Roland Garros for the same ticket price.
The tournament format runs over approximately 10 days — the first several days with full courts operating simultaneously (which produces the most concentrated professional tennis, as multiple top players are on adjacent courts simultaneously), building to the week-end quarterfinals, semifinals, and final on the main stadium. The early rounds on outside courts provide very close viewing at low ticket prices, since the outside court seating at Aviva is intimate enough that you're watching professional tennis from 10 metres.
The August timing in Toronto coincides with the pre-US Open hardcourt swing — most top players use the National Bank Open as their final major tune-up before Flushing Meadows, which means the competitive intensity is genuine even in early rounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the National Bank Open in Toronto?
The National Bank Open takes place in mid-August each year. Toronto hosts the men's (ATP Masters 1000) or women's (WTA 1000) tournament in alternating years with Montreal. Check the tournament website for the current year's format and dates.
How do I buy tickets for the National Bank Open?
Tickets are available through the National Bank Open website (Rogers Cup / National Bank Open) and through Ticketmaster. Popular sessions (men's quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals) sell out well in advance. Early-round tickets and outside court access are available at lower prices.
What is the venue for the National Bank Open?
The tournament is held at the Aviva Centre at 1 Shoreham Drive in North York, accessible from York Mills station on Line 1 via a shuttle bus operated during the tournament, or by driving via Highway 401 and the Don Valley Parkway.
Is the National Bank Open worth attending for casual tennis fans?
Strongly yes — the combination of world-class players, the accessible Aviva Centre setting, and ticket prices that are a fraction of Grand Slam costs makes the National Bank Open one of the best value elite sports events in Canada. The early-round sessions with multiple top players on outside courts are particularly good value.