The 2026 WTA Canadian Open in Toronto is shaping up to be one of the most compelling events of the North American hard-court swing, and the entry list is packed with storylines before a ball is even struck.
Aryna Sabalenka heads the 96-player main draw as the top seed, with Elena Rybakina slotted as the second seed to anchor the bottom half of the draw. Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, and a sliding Iga Swiatek round out the upper seedings, though Swiatek's ranking dip means she could face a brutal path through Pegula, Gauff, and Linda Noskova before reaching the semifinals.
One of the most compelling subplots involves Alex Eala, who earns her first seeded appearance at the tournament. The Filipino star, ranked 28th in the world, will enter as the 25th seed following several withdrawals. Her run to the Wimbledon round of 16 was a major catalyst for that positioning, signaling her rapid ascent on the WTA tour.
Defending champion Victoria Mboko will be absent due to injury, a tough blow for the home fans who watched the young Canadian stun Gauff, Rybakina, and Naomi Osaka last year en route to a fairy-tale debut title. However, four former Canadian Open champions remain in the field: Pegula, Bianca Andreescu, Elina Svitolina, and Belinda Bencic.
Venus Williams received a wildcard entry, becoming the lone non-Canadian among eight wildcard selections. Organizers had hoped her sister Serena might also accept a wildcard, but Serena declined while continuing her recovery from a knee injury.
Seedings are based on WTA Rankings from July 27, and 15 additional players will earn main draw spots through qualifying. TennisDraw users have already been busy locking in their bracket picks for the Toronto draw.
