After an up-and-down clay and grass court campaign by her lofty standards, Sabalenka arrives in Canada eager to return to the surface where she has consistently played her best tennis. The reigning world No. 1 reached the finals of all four hard-court tournaments she contested earlier this season, lifting three titles and once again proving why she remains the player to beat whenever the tour returns to acrylic courts.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the tournament, Sabalenka admitted she has high expectations as she transitions back to her preferred surface.

“Yeah, I have huge hopes (laughing). I wouldn’t say that clay and grass, it wasn’t like it was that bad. I was trying a couple things, things didn’t go the way that I expected, and now we’re kind of back to basics, and I really hope it’s going to work out well on the hard court again.”

Those “basics” have formed the blueprint of Sabalenka’s success throughout the past several seasons. Her explosive first serve, relentless baseline power and improved consistency have transformed her into one of the most complete hard-court players in the game.

Returning to the Fundamentals

Sabalenka elaborated on exactly what she means by getting “back to basics,” revealing that simplicity has become the focus of her preparations heading into Toronto.

“It’s a routine. It’s lots of rallies, lots of basic work, like cross court. I don’t know, it’s just like, kind of like not, like going back to like really small variety of the game. Don’t go too much into these angles, dropshots, like serve and volley, just kind of bring back the baseline game, make sure I’m really confident there. Then, on top of that, put some variety, so…”

The comments provide an interesting insight into Sabalenka’s mindset. Rather than experimenting with an expanded tactical arsenal, the three-time Grand Slam champion is emphasizing the heavy baseline tennis that has propelled her to the top of the WTA Rankings.

If she establishes her rhythm early in Toronto, few players possess the power or consistency necessary to match her over the course of a full match.

Uchijima Looks to Produce an Upset

Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima has steadily climbed the rankings thanks to her solid all-around game, excellent movement and willingness to compete in long rallies. Comfortable from both wings, Uchijima has demonstrated the patience required to frustrate aggressive opponents while possessing enough offensive capability to capitalize when opportunities arise.

Against Sabalenka, however, she faces one of the biggest challenges in women’s tennis.

The Japanese star will likely attempt to extend rallies, absorb pace and force Sabalenka into uncomfortable positions, hoping to draw errors from the world No. 1. Limiting free points on Sabalenka’s serve and taking advantage of second-serve opportunities will also be critical if Uchijima hopes to keep the contest competitive.

Yet the margin for error remains exceptionally small. Should Sabalenka find her range behind the first serve and begin dictating with her forehand, Uchijima could quickly find herself under relentless pressure.

A Crucial Start to the Summer Swing

The National Bank Open has long served as one of the most important tournaments leading into the US Open, offering players the opportunity to establish rhythm on North American hard courts before the season’s final Grand Slam.

For Sabalenka, a convincing victory would not only launch another Canadian campaign but also reinforce her position as the leading favourite throughout the summer.

Her confidence on hard courts, combined with a renewed commitment to the fundamentals that have delivered so much success, makes Toronto an ideal setting to begin another title push.

With the world’s attention once again turning toward North American tennis, Sabalenka appears ready to remind everyone why she has been the standard-bearer on hard courts throughout 2026.

Prediction

While Uchijima has the consistency and athleticism to make rallies competitive, Sabalenka’s superior firepower, first-strike tennis and outstanding hard-court pedigree should ultimately prove decisive.

If the world No. 1 executes the baseline-focused game plan she outlined in practice, she should comfortably advance to the next round.

Prediction: Aryna Sabalenka defeats Moyuka Uchijima in straight sets to begin her 2026 National Bank Open campaign with an impressive performance.

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Jack Draper vs. Terence Atmane Preview | National Bank Open Montreal 2026

Former World No. 4 Jack Draper begins his North American hard-court campaign at the 2026 National Bank Open in Montreal with an intriguing first-round clash against France’s Terence Atmane. The matchup marks Draper’s return to ATP Tour action following the grass-court season and is one of the standout opening-round contests at IGA Stadium.

Draper enters Montreal as a dangerous wildcard with a game perfectly suited to North American hard courts. The British left-hander possesses one of the biggest serves on tour, a penetrating forehand, and the ability to dictate rallies from the baseline. If he quickly rediscovers his rhythm after the summer break, he will once again be viewed as a serious threat in ATP Masters 1000 competition.

Standing across the net is the rapidly improving Terence Atmane, who has enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2026. The Frenchman has climbed into the ATP Tour’s upper echelon thanks to his aggressive left-handed game and fearless shot-making. Atmane arrives in Montreal with confidence after producing several impressive performances on hard courts this season, including a notable victory over Frances Tiafoe in Washington last week.

With both players preferring to attack from the baseline and using their left-handed serves to open the court, fans can expect plenty of explosive rallies and first-strike tennis. Draper’s experience in big ATP events could prove decisive, but Atmane has demonstrated throughout 2026 that he is capable of troubling elite opponents.

The winner will gain valuable momentum heading into the North American hard-court swing, with both players looking to build confidence ahead of the US Open later this month. As one of the featured first-round matches in Montreal, Draper versus Atmane has all the ingredients to produce an entertaining battle between two of the tour’s most exciting left-handers.