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While the circuit's stars battle it out on North American hard courts, the numbers tell another competition, quieter but just as decisive. The 2026 National Bank Open, held from August 2 to 13 with the men's event in Montreal and the women's in Toronto, distributes a total purse of nearly $16.8 million US this year. For the first time, the gap between the prize money of the two draws falls below 25%, a key step toward the equality promised for 2027.
Two purses, two realities drawing closer
The men's tournament, classified as an ATP Masters 1000, offers $9,415,724.
The men's tournament, classified as an ATP Masters 1000, offers $9,415,724. The singles champion will pocket $1,151,420, while the winning doubles pair will share $468,200. On the women's side, the WTA 1000 in Toronto offers approximately $7.4 million, or 78% of the men's purse—a ratio never before achieved in the history of the event.
Just three seasons ago, WTA players received only a third of what their male counterparts earned at this same event. The promoter, Tennis Canada, has committed to a multi-year convergence plan with a precise timeline: 60% in 2025, 78% this year, and full parity targeted for the 2027 edition. The expansion of both tournaments to a twelve-day format, with 96-player draws, has provided the economic foundation needed for this rise.
What changes concretely for the players
Behind the percentage, there are locker-room realities. A player eliminated in the first round in Toronto leaves with a significantly larger check than in previous editions, enough to cover a larger share of travel and coaching expenses. For seeded players aiming for the round of 16 or quarterfinals, the progression is even more noticeable: each round won pays more than in 2025, and the gap with the men's draw narrows at every line of the prize money breakdown.
The contrast with other major tournaments, however, remains stark. While Wimbledon and the US Open have practiced parity for several years, Roland-Garros and the Australian Open maintain a gap. The signal sent by the National Bank Open, a 1000-level tournament owned by a national federation, could weigh in upcoming discussions within the WTA-ATP calendar.
Meanwhile, on the courts
The spotlight is obviously not only on the numbers. In Montreal, Gaël Monfils electrified Centre Court during a Super Monday that saw Gabriel Diallo thrill the local crowd. In Toronto, Leylah Fernandez carries Canadian hopes while Sabalenka, Swiatek, and Pegula advance toward the round of 16. The battle for the winner's check promises to be as intense as the one for ranking points.
One question remains that the next two weeks will not settle but that the circuit will have to face: once salary parity is achieved in 2027 at this tournament, how many other Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 events will follow the same path?