One of Toronto’s biggest annual sporting events is just around the corner.

With qualifying starting on this Saturday before the first-ever 96-player field and 12-day format, the National Bank Open’s 2025 edition is set to be the tournament’s biggest ever.

Tournament director Karl Hale spoke of his excitement for this year’s event, which welcomes many of the top men’s tennis players from around the world, while the women will compete in the other half of the tournament in Montreal.

Hale, who is nearing two decades in his current role, spoke of why he’s stayed in the position for so long.

“What’s kept me in it is just seeing the tremendous opportunity and growth of our event since 2006,” Hale said in an interview with Offside. “As a team, you make strategic decisions that are in the best interest of the partners, the players, the fans…  as you move out through the tournament, you see the great matches, the unexpected upsets, the expected wins, and then you end up with your champions.”

The 2023 event, the last to feature men’s players in Toronto, drew in 219,000 spectators, with the number expected to rise this year with the longer tournament and expanded field.

Tickets for the main draw start at just $15 for single-session tickets for early round matches, which includes access to smaller, secondary courts on the Sobeys Stadium grounds. A free access family weekend for qualifying on Saturday and $20 seats for the opening draw on Sunday have already sold out.

“I think outdoor sporting events are the pinnacle of our sport,” Hale added, noting that he’s looking forward to grabbing a few $5 hot dogs on the centre court 300 level.

While Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic are a few of the big names that have withdrawn from this year’s edition of the tournament, which runs from July 26 through Aug. 7, Hale highlighted underdog stories beginning with the opening qualifying day as some of his favourite parts of the tournament.

Canadian tennis stars Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime are both expected to take part, with a final draw released this Friday.

“That day of qualifying, you’ll see just tremendous grit, determination, transformation, because some careers will end, and some, that’s where the star starts to shine,” Hale said.

Hale shared that over 80 per cent of the annual revenue for Tennis Canada is typically generated from the event, helping to fund youth facilities and programs, national teams in international competitions, and future tennis events across the country.

“It’s the most important vehicle for tennis in Canada,” Hale added. “The number one thing, in my opinion, is to promote the sport and develop champions in Canada… you need these events where people can go up and see how amazing these athletes are in person.”

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