Tennis Canada has held ‘productive dialogue’ with the government regarding staging this year’s National Bank Open but admits they are looking at a variety of options.
The staging of the tournament, which usually takes place during August, is critical for the national body as it generates 90% of their total revenue each year used to invest back into the sport. Known to some as the Canadian Open the event has been in existence for more than 100 years. It alternates every year between Toronto and Montreal in hosting the men’s or women’s event.
Providing an update on the status of this year’s event, Tennis Canada says they are confident in hosting the event in some capacity. The 2020 edition was forced to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. More recently in April the country also cancelled six Challenger tournaments.
“We remain confident there are still multiple options for our tournaments to be held in Montreal and Toronto this August, such as in broadcast-only or limited-fan models, both of which have already been planned for in detail,” Eugène Lapierre, Tournament Director of the Montreal National Bank Open, said in a statement.
Among the discussions currently taking place is the possibility of moving the event across the border to America. A similar concept to what happened last year with the Cincinnati Open moving to New York prior to the start of the US Open last year. Officials say this option would only take place if discussions with Canadian authorities are ‘exhausted.’ However, negotiations are already underway.
“Tennis Canada has also held preliminary conversations with the USTA to discuss what options might be available as an alternative in the United States. However, it is important to understand this would be considered only after we have exhausted our options in Canada,” Lapierre commented.
UbiTennis has learned that officials are considering moving the event to Cincinnati where the men’s and women’s tournament would be played in consecutive weeks. It would take place before the start of the Western and Southern Open. The state will lift their mask mandate and all remaining coronavirus health orders except those for nursing homes and assisted living facilities on June 2.
On May 11th Canada reported its lowest number of daily COVID-19 cases since March. More than 16.5 million people in the country have received at least one dose of a vaccine which works out to be roughly 40.5% of the population.
As it currently stands, the tournament is scheduled to take place from Aug. 7-15 with the women and men playing in Montreal and Toronto, respectively.
The National Bank Open is categorised as a Masters 1000 event for the men and as a WTA 1000 for the women. Rafael Nadal and Bianca Andreescu are the reigning champions.
