The Canadian Open tennis tournament began its first round in Montreal, marking the official start of the North American hard court swing that leads to the US Open. The tournament draws top players seeking competitive matches on hard courts. [1]

The ATP event in Montreal features men's singles and doubles competition, while the WTA tournament runs simultaneously in Toronto. The parallel events make the Canadian Open one of the largest combined tennis tournaments outside the Grand Slams. [1]

The tournament serves as a critical lead-up to the US Open, which begins in late August. Players use the Canadian Open to calibrate their games on hard courts after the grass court season and clay court swing. [2]

First-round matches feature qualifying players and lower-ranked draw entries, with top seeds receiving byes into later rounds. The early rounds often produce upsets that reshape the tournament's trajectory. [2]

The Canadian Open's position in the tennis calendar makes it a reliable indicator of which players are peaking heading into the final Grand Slam of the year. [1]

-- AMARA OKONKWO, London