The tennis world is buzzing with opinions about change, and not everyone’s happy. As the National Bank Open expands its main draw from 56 to 96 players, top stars are speaking out about what this means for their preparation and mental stamina heading into the year’s biggest tournaments.
Why Is Jessica Pegula Concerned About the Canadian Open’s New Format?
Jessica Pegula enters the 2025 National Bank Open as the No. 3 seed in Montreal, but her mind is already on the challenges ahead. Fresh off a disappointing loss to Leylah Fernández in Washington’s round of 16, where she fell 6-3, 1-6, 7-5 despite being the top seed, Pegula arrived in Canada with reservations about the tournament’s expanded format.
The timing concerns her most. With the US Open approaching quickly, Pegula worries that longer tournaments could disrupt players’ preparation for the season’s final Grand Slam. Her preference is clear: shorter, more efficient events that allow players to focus their energy strategically.
“I kind of like the smaller (laughing). I kind of like when it’s quicker. I feel like you can just go and get it over with. I feel like sometimes when they’re really long, it can seem really long, especially leading up to a slam, but I’m interested,” she said in the pre-event press conference.
National Bank Open Main Draw in Toronto!
They revealed all the names at once.
96-players. Main draw action begins on Sunday night.
7 Canadians in the main draw. #NBO25 #CdnTennis pic.twitter.com/gEC8tFd7fp
— Jacob Pacheco (@JacobPacheco6) July 25, 2025
Beyond the scheduling issues, Pegula highlighted the mental toll these extended formats can take on players. The comparison to Grand Slam events particularly struck her as problematic.
“I’m not a fan of, yeah, when they’re, like, two weeks long. It can get really tough. I feel like slams are two weeks, and so now turning everything almost into a slam is really mentally draining. I’m hoping that these two events feel like a good kind of middle ground, I guess I could say,” she added.
Pegula is scheduled to begin her Canadian Open campaign on July 29th with a match against a qualifying participant who has yet to be determined.
What Did Frances Tiafoe Say About the Tournament’s Schedule Changes?
Pegula isn’t alone in her criticism of the National Bank Open’s new direction. ATP star Frances Tiafoe delivered an even harsher assessment of the changes, particularly targeting the tournament’s scheduling decisions and their potential impact on US Open preparation.
While Tiafoe acknowledged some positives about the shorter duration compared to other Masters events, his frustration with the overall setup was unmistakable. The Thursday final date especially drew his ire.
“It is what it is. I like that it’s a bit shorter than Madrid, Rome. Weird because the final is on a Thursday. That’s garbage. But, I mean, I think it’s going to be great. It’s going to be a lot of fun. I love the city of Toronto. My girlfriend’s from there. Then I’ve got a lot of friends in the league from there, so I’m going to be set up, have a good time,” he said.
This criticism comes as the ATP Tour implements its new 12-day format across seven of the nine Masters 1000 tournaments, each now featuring 96 players instead of the previous single-week, 56-player structure. The change represents a significant shift in how tennis organizes its premier events outside of Grand Slams.
