World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to miss WTA 1000 tournament ahead of her US Open title defense

Aryna Sabalenka will not play the National Bank Open in Montreal, opting instead to focus on the remainder of the North American hard-court season. The World No.1 announced her withdrawal in a statement released by Tennis Canada, calling it her “best chance” for hard court success this year.

The 27-year-old Belarusian returns to North America as the reigning US Open champion. Last year, she beat Jessica Pegula in the final to secure her maiden title in New York. With no Grand Slam titles yet in 2025, Sabalenka is looking to peak at Flushing Meadows once again.

“I’m looking forward to kicking off the North American hard-court swing, but to give myself the best chance for success this season, I’ve decided it’s in my best interest to skip Montreal,” Sabalenka said.

Aryna Sabalenka at the tournament in Montreal in 2023 (Getty Images)

She added that she would miss her “amazing Canadian fans” and expressed gratitude for their support, saying she hopes to return in 2026. Sabalenka reached the quarterfinals in Montreal last year, where she lost to Amanda Anisimova. She has never won the event.

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When will Sabalenka play next?

Sabalenka’s next appearance is expected to be at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, where she is the defending champion. The tournament serves as a key tune-up ahead of the US Open, which begins later in August.

The decision to skip Montreal came after a semifinal exit at Wimbledon, where she fell short of reaching her first final at the All England Club. With the Australian Open, Roland Garros, and Wimbledon now behind her, New York remains her final opportunity to secure a major title this season.

Despite the pressure, Sabalenka has remained upbeat. “I think even though I lost a lot of finals, I lost tough matches at the slams this year, I still think that the consistency I was able to bring till this moment, it’s impressive,” she said after her loss at Wimbledon.