![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/NBO-FAMILY-DAY-ALAN-SUKONNIK-2.jpg\")
National Bank Open hosts family day ahead of the tournament start in Montreal, on Aug. 1, 2026 (CityNews)<\/p>\nBefore the matches begin, it was time for Montreal families to take centre court Saturday.<\/p>\n
Tennis Canada hosted the IGA Family Weekend Saturday offering free tennis activities for kids to get up close to some of the tournament\u2019s biggest stars. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s mostly for accessibility,\u201d says Julie Gravel, marketing director of Tennis Canada. \u201cWe want to make sure that tennis remains accessible. We want to grow the sport. That\u2019s our objective as a federation, so if we can inspire one kid at the end of the day to pick up a racket, like that\u2019s that\u2019s all we need.\u201d<\/p>\n
National Bank Open hosts family day ahead of the tournament start in Montreal, on Aug. 1, 2026 (CityNews)<\/p>\n
Young fans and their parents got to try their hand at mini tennis and share their passion for the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really fun,\u201d says Jameson Cronin, from Ottawa. \u201cYou can do all sorts of different tennis-related activities for free.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some said beyond the activities, some said it\u2019s the chance to see the stars up close that brought them to the weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can get super close and you can see their process a bit and what they\u2019re working on and how they interact with their coaches and stuff,\u201d said Cronin\u2019s father.<\/p>\n
It was also the case for another parent Don Bui who came with his son.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been going since I was a kid and now to share that with my children and just seeing the top players in the world in our backyard is practicing feet away from us,\u201d said Bui. \u201cThere\u2019s no price for that. It\u2019s just incredible. It\u2019s an amazing week. My favorite week of the year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bui\u2019s passion has rubbed off on his son, who said, he was excited to see the local tennis sensation Auger-Aliassime in action.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/NBO-FAMILY-DAY-ALAN-SUKONNIK-1.jpg\")
National Bank Open hosts family day ahead of the tournament start in Montreal, on Aug. 1, 2026 (CityNews)<\/p>\n
While tennis was the main attraction, for some it was meeting mascots and enjoying face painting, yoga, giant bubbles and other activities as a family that was the most fun.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love playing here with the mascot and I love playing with my family,\u201d said one young attendee.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s National Bank Open is bigger than ever with a new 12-day format giving an opportunity for more players and more matches.<\/p>\n
The tournament starts Sunday and the final is set for August 13.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/NBO-FAMILY-DAY-ALAN-SUKONNIK-3.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\tNational Bank Open hosts family day ahead of the tournament start in Montreal, on Aug. 1, 2026 (CityNews) <\/p>\n
\t\tKeep it Factual<\/p>\n
Add CityNews Montreal as a trusted source on Google to see more local stories from us.<\/p>\n
![\"Add](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1782077411_500_google-trusted-badge.png\"){kind=icon}