The buzz is building in Montreal, and everyone is asking the same thing. With Aryna Sabalenka out and big names shuffling the deck, who is set to shake up the women’s draw at the Canadian Open? The top seeds are hungry, the field is wide open, and every player knows what is at stake ahead of the US Open. What drama will unfold when some of the best women’s tennis players clash for one of the season’s most essential tune-ups?
Who Are the Top Seeds at the 2025 Canadian Open With Aryna Sabalenka Missing?
The North American hard-court swing is heating up during the Citi DC Open, but the spotlight is already shifting to the Canadian Open. While the men’s tournament lost several top names, including Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, and Jack Draper, the women’s draw also faces significant changes.
The top seed, Sabalenka, pulled out due to fatigue. World No. 6 Zheng Qinwen is taking a break from the tour after elbow surgery, and World No. 10 Paula Badosa is absent with a back injury.
With those big names missing, fans will see French Open champion and World No. 2 Coco Gauff as the top seed. Iga Świątek, World No. 3 and the reigning Wimbledon champion, now slots in as the second seed.
The 2025 National Bank Open seeds are locked in!🚨
Montreal, get ready, the biggest names in women’s tennis are coming.
This summer’s going to be unforgettable 👉 https://t.co/wN26UM4C9o pic.twitter.com/ALbhT6vfmY— Omnium Banque Nationale (@OBNmontreal) July 22, 2025
Also in the race, World No. 4 Jessica Pegula enters as the third seed. Pegula, who took the title in the previous two editions, will aim to be the first player to win three straight Canadian Open trophies since Monica Seles in 1997. Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva claims the fourth seed, and Amanda Anisimova, this year’s Wimbledon finalist, will be seeded fifth.
Looking deeper into the seeds, World No. 8 Madison Keys is sixth, followed by World No. 9 Jasmine Paolini as the seventh seed. In Badosa’s absence, American player Emma Navarro grabs the eighth seed, bringing extra excitement for home fans.
You may not realize it, but the Canadian Open always swaps locations annually for the men’s and women’s tournaments. When it’s Montreal’s turn for the women, the men’s event happens in Toronto during odd-numbered years, with the roles flipping every even year. That tradition adds another unique angle to the event in 2025.
How Did the Top Seeds Perform at the 2024 Canadian Open?
With this field coming together, it’s worth looking back at how these stars did in 2024. Pegula’s run last year was the highlight, as she defended her title and picked up her second straight Canadian Open crown. Amanda Anisimova, who just made a splash at Wimbledon, was also brilliant in Toronto. She reached the final before Pegula beat her in three sets: 6-3, 2-6, 6-1.
🏆 BACK-TO-BACK 🏆@JPegula defends her title at the #NBO24, becoming the first woman in the 21st century to win two straight titles in Canada 🤠@nationalbank pic.twitter.com/SDXIc2A44J
— National Bank Open (@NBOtoronto) August 12, 2024
For example, Anisimova’s run included a huge quarterfinal win over World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, just as she did at Wimbledon this year. Now slotted as the eighth seed, Navarro went to the semifinals before Anisimova stopped her run.
Meanwhile, Coco Gauff, who came in as the top seed last year, exited in the Round of 16 after losing to Diana Shnaider. On the other hand, Świątek missed the 2024 tournament as she dealt with fatigue.
All eyes are now on Montreal as a new group of contenders looks to make their mark at the Canadian Open. This year’s tournament promises even more unpredictability and excitement with the draw up for grabs and several top seeds in the mix.
