Sabalenka ready for hard-court return at National Bank Open after challenging stretch

TORONTO — Aryna Sabalenka desperately needed a break.

The WTA’s top-ranked player had just been bounced from Wimbledon in the fourth round — her earliest Grand Slam exit since 2022 — on the heels of a stunning quarterfinal loss at the French Open a month prior.

“I want to get completely drunk, forget about tennis,” Sabalenka told reporters July 5 in London after falling to Naomi Osaka in straight sets at the All England Club.

“And try to get better.”

Following some time away from the game, her journey starts anew at the National Bank Open.

Sabalenka headlines a star-studded field at Canada’s annual showcase with the aim of turning things around on North America’s hard courts coming off a challenging stretch on Europe’s grass and clay.

“I was trying a couple things,” the 28-year-old from Belarus said Sunday at Sobeys Stadium. “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.”

Sabalenka will have been off almost a month — including some down time in Greece — when she’s scheduled to open her tournament Tuesday night.

“The rest was much-needed,” said the four-time Grand Slam winner. “I suffered during the summer swing a lot with my body (and) mentally also a little bit.”

Her hunger returned after about a week of decompression.

“I felt much better,” Sabalenka added. “I couldn’t wait to get back on court and start working toward my goals.”

Some of the names joining her at the US$7.4-million WTA 1000 event are world No. 2 Elena Rybakina, who beat Sabalenka to claim this year’s Australian Open, two-time NBO champion Jessica Pegula, two-time Grand Slam winner Coco Gauff, and 2026 French Open titleholder Mirra Andreeva.

Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., is the only seeded Canadian at No. 30.

The WTA’s top-ranked player since October 2024, Sabalenka skipped last year’s Canadian stop in Montreal due to fatigue after winning the French Open and making Wimbledon’s semifinals.

While most of the top women’s talent available is in Toronto, the men’s bracket saw a trend of late, high-profile withdrawals continue after world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and No. 5 Novak Djokovic pulled the plug on their participation.

The NBO represents the start of a hectic run-up to the U.S. Open that also features the Cincinnati Open, which begins before the final matches in both Toronto and Montreal, where the men are competing in 2026.

Sabalenka said it’s a lot of tennis in a short period, especially when shifting to the hard courts.

“Very tricky scheduling lots of (longer) tournaments,” she said. “If you go far at the grass (events), you don’t have much time to reset, recharge, and go back on court to practise and then play the tournament … skipping the vacation time, which is really needed after that big part of the season.”

Sabalenka added a packed schedule and changing surfaces means players have to make difficult decisions.

“If you go far in the grass court (season), you feel really fatigued and you’re not able to pull out any good tennis,” she said. “What’s the reason of coming when your body is really under so much stress? Not enough time for recovery, you force your body too much, and then it can cause you an injury.”

After a sub-par showing on grass and clay, however, Sabalenka’s path was straightforward.

“This year I didn’t do well,” she said with a laugh. “So I’m here.”

CHAMP IS ALSO HERE

Wimbledon winner Linda Noskova reflected on a wild month after she defeated Karolina Muchova in an all-Czechia final.

“The last couple of weeks have been nothing more but crazy and chaos,” said the 21-year-old ranked No. 7 in the world. “I’m glad I can start over. It’s a new week, new tournament, new surface. It’s all the changes at the same time.

“I’ll have to get used to it as fast as possible.”

PUSHING AHEAD

Andreeva, who won her first Grand Slam at the French Open, will debut in Toronto coming off a 2025 third-round loss in Montreal.

“One of the dreams that I was able to accomplish,” said the 19-year-old Russian. “I’m happy it happened, but now I also have to focus on the future.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 2, 2026.

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press