After a weekend of qualifying in extreme heat, the National Bank Open picks up steam on Monday with the main draw beginning for the women in Toronto and the men in Montreal.
While the schedule looks fun, the only issue could be the weather, with rain in the forecast in both cities.
Here’s a look at the most compelling matchups at both venues on opening day.
Women’s headliner
No. 13 Leylah Annie Fernandez (Canada) vs. Qualifier Storm Sanders (Australia), 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
Fernandez, from Laval, Que., plays her first match since suffering a Grade 3 stress fracture in her right foot in a quarterfinal loss at the French Open on May 31.
The 19-year-old Canadian has a favourable draw, facing a player ranked outside the top 200.
Sanders hasn’t won a match in a main draw this year.
Men’s headliner
Denis Shapovalov (Canada) vs. Alex de Minaur (Australia), 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT
Shapovalov, from Richmond Hill, Ont., has slipped to No. 22 in the rankings – as of Sunday — after losing seven of his past eight matches.
De Minaur was one spot above him at No. 21.
The Australian is 2-0 lifetime against Shapovalov, who hopes to replicate his 2017 Montreal magic when he stunned Rafael Nadal.
Other highlights
Serena Williams (U.S.) vs. ‘Lucky Loser’ Nuria Parrizas-Diaz (Spain), Approximately 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT
The 40-year-old Williams will play an official singles match for just the second time this year on Monday.
After losing in the first round at Wimbledon, the 23-time Grand Slam champ begins hard-court prep for the U.S. Open against a player ranked outside the top 50.
Last time in Toronto in 2019, Williams made the final before retiring because of injury in the first set against Canada’s Bianca Andreescu.
Andy Murray (Great Britain) vs. No. 10 Taylor Fritz (U.S.), Not before 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT
With Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal not in Montreal, Murray is the lone player from that familiar foursome to be taking the court.
Now 35, Murray will be an underdog against Fritz. The Brit did reach a final in June at the Stuttgart Open, but then exited in the second round of Wimbledon at home.
Fritz has been battling a foot injury and stopped playing a match last week in the third set in Washington, where temperatures were very high.
Fritz has said the injury has prevented him from doing his usual fitness routine.
Full women’s schedule
Centre court (starts at 11 a.m. ET)
[15] Simona Halep (ROU) vs. [LL] Donna Vekic (CRO)
[LL] Nuria Parrizas Diaz (ESP) vs Serena Williams (USA)
Sloane Stephens (USA) vs. Sofia Kenin (USA)
Night session (starts at 7 p.m. ET)
{Q] Storm Sanders (AUS) vs. [13] Leylah Annie Fernandez (CAN)
Jill Teichmann (SUI) vs. [WC] Venus Williams (USA)
National Bank Grandstand Court (starts at 11 a.m. ET)
Elena Rybakina (KAZ) vs. [Q] Marie Bouzkova (CZE)
Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) vs. [14] Karolina Pliskova (CZE)
Alize Cornet (FRA) vs. Caroline Garcia (FRA)
Petra Kvitova (CZE) vs. Alison Riske-Amritraj (USA)
[WC] Katherine Sebov (CAN) vs. Yulia Putintseva (KAZ)
Court 1 (starts at 11 a.m. ET)
Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA) vs. Martina Trevisan (ITA)
[16] Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) vs. Anhelina Kalinina (UKR)
[Q] Asia Muhammad (USA) vs. Madison Keys (USA)
Court 4 (12 p.m. ET)
[8] A. Guarachi (CHI) / A. Klepac (SLO) vs. [WC] R. Marino (CAN) / C. Zhao (CAN)
Full Montreal Schedule
Centre Court (starts at 12 p.m.)
Stan Wawrinka (SUI) vs. Emil Ruusuvuori (FIN)
Not before 2 p.m. ET: [WC] Andy Murray (GBR) vs. [10] Taylor Fritz (USA)
Night session (starts at 6:30 p.m. ET)
Denis Shapovalov (CAN) vs. Alex de Minaur (AUS)
[12] Diego Schwartzman (ARG) vs. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP)
Rogers Court (starts at 12 p.m. ET)
Francisco Cerundolo (ARG) vs. Karen Khachanov (RUS)
Alexander Bublik (KAZ) vs. Jenson Brooksby (USA)
[Q] Hugo Gaston (FRA) vs. [Q] Jack Draper (GBR)
Night session (starts at 6:30 p.m. ET)
[Q] Marcos Giron (USA) vs. [14] Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP)
[Q] Fabio Fognini (ITA) vs. Holger Rune (DEN)
Court 9 (starts at 12 p.m. ET)
Alex Molcan (SVK) vs. Mackenzie McDonald (USA)
G. Dimitrov (BUL) / A. Rublev vs. M. Ebden (AUS) / M. Purcell (AUS)
B. Bonzi (FRA) / G. Monfils (FRA) vs. [WC] V. Pospisil (CAN) / J. Sinner (ITA)
[Q] Adrian Mannarino (FRA) vs. [Q] Arthur Rinderknech (FRA)
Court 5 (starts at 1 p.m. ET)
[6] T. Puetz (GER) / M. Venus (NZL) vs.H. Hurkacz (POL) / J. Zielinski (POL)
J. Murray (GBR) / B. Soares (BRA) vs. D. Evans (GBR) / J. Peers (AUS)
Sportsnet broadcast schedule
Women’s: 11 a.m. ET (Sportsnet ONE / SN NOW); 6:30 p.m. ET (SN NOW)
Men’s: 12 p.m. ET (Sportsnet / SN NOW); 6:30 p.m. ET (Sportsnet ONE)
The past weekend of football was all about the favourites.
The favoured teams went 13-1 straight up and 10-4 against the spread in the NFL. In college football, the three most teams bet at the BetMGM Sportsbook in terms of number of bets and money all won and covered. All three were favourites.
Trends of the Week
The three most bet college teams that won and covered on Saturday were Ohio State (-3.5) vs. Penn State, Indiana (-7.5) at Michigan State and Oregon (-14.5) at Michigan. Penn State has now lost seven straight home games as underdogs. The Nittany Lions were up 10-0 in the first quarter and were 3.5-point favourites at the time. The Buckeyes won 17-10.
In the NFL, the three most bet teams in terms of number of bets and money were the Washington Commanders (-4) at the New York Giants, the Detroit Lions (-2.5) at the Green Bay Packers and the Buffalo Bills (-6) vs. the Miami Dolphins. All three teams won, but only two of the three covered the spread as Buffalo beat Miami 30-27.
When it came to the players with the most bets to score a touchdown on Sunday, only two of the five reached the end zone — Chase Brown (-125) and Taysom Hill (+185). David Montgomery (-140), Brian Robinson Jr. (+110) and AJ Barner (+500) did not score.
Upsets of the Week
The biggest upset in the NFL was the Carolina Panthers coming from behind to beat the New Orleans Saints 23-22. New Orleans closed as a 7-point favourite and took in 76% of the bets and 79% of the money in against-the-spread betting. The Saints fired head coach Dennis Allen following the loss. They have now lost seven straight games after starting the year 2-0.
Arguably the biggest upset in college football was South Carolina beating No. 10 Texas A&M 44-20 at home. Texas A&M closed as a 2.5-point favourite and took in 59% of the bets and 58% of the money.
NEW YORK – Washington Capitals left-wing Alex Ovechkin, Carolina Hurricanes centre Martin Necas and Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby have been named the NHL’s three stars of the week.
Ovechkin had a league-leading five goals and nine points in four games.
The 39-year-old Capitals captain has 14 points in 11 games this season, and his 860 career goals are just 34 shy of Wayne Gretzky’s record.
Necas shared the league lead with nine points (three goals, six assists) in three games.
Crosby factored on seven of the Penguins’ eight total goals scoring four goals and adding three assists in three appearances. The 37-year-old Penguins captain leads his team with 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 13 games this season.
Crosby and Ovechkin, longtime rivals since entering the league together in 2005-06, will meet for the 70th time in the regular season and 95th time overall when Pittsburgh visits Washington on Friday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2024.
TORONTO – Running back Brady Oliveira of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell are the finalists for the CFL’s outstanding player award.
Oliveira led the CFL in rushing this season with 1,353 yards while Mitchell was the league leader in passing yards (5,451) and touchdowns (32).
Oliveira is also the West Division finalist for the CFL’s top Canadian award, the second straight year he’s been nominated for both.
Oliveira was the CFL’s outstanding Canadian in 2023 and the runner-up to Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for outstanding player.
Defensive lineman Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund of the Montreal Alouettes is the East Division’s top Canadian nominee.
Voting for the awards is conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and the nine CFL head coaches.
The other award finalists include: defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal linebacker Tyrice Beverette (outstanding defensive player); Saskatchewan’s Logan Ferland and Toronto’s Ryan Hunter (outstanding lineman); B.C. Lions kicker Sean Whyte and Toronto returner Janarion Grant (special teams); and Edmonton Elks linebacker Nick Anderson and Hamilton receiver Shemar Bridges (outstanding rookie).
The coach of the year finalists are Saskatchewan’s Corey Mace and Montreal’s Jason Maas.
The CFL will honour its top individual performers Nov. 14 in Vancouver.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31.
