Rain Delay at Canadian Open 2026 – What Happened at IGA Stadium and Sobeys Stadium
The opening day of the 2026 Canadian Open main draw was disrupted by heavy rain across both cities on August 2, with matches delayed, suspended, and cancelled at IGA Stadium in Montreal and Sobeys Stadium in Toronto simultaneously.
Rain disrupted tennis tournaments across North America on Sunday, cancelling the evening session at the Canadian Open in Montreal and halting play in Toronto. The weather affected the first day of main draw action at both venues, pushing scheduled morning starts into the afternoon and ultimately forcing tournament organizers to cancel both evening sessions entirely.
For fans attending in person, watching at home, or holding tickets for cancelled sessions, this guide covers exactly what happened, which matches were affected, and what the official rain policy means for ticket holders at both venues.
Quick Facts:
| Detail | Info |
| Date | Sunday August 2, 2026 |
| Venues affected | IGA Stadium Montreal and Sobeys Stadium Toronto |
| Original start time | 12:30 PM ET both venues |
| Toronto delay | Nearly 2 hours before play began |
| Montreal delay | Day session suspended, evening cancelled |
| Toronto night session | Session 3 cancelled entirely |
| Montreal night session | Evening session cancelled entirely |
| Play resumes | Monday August 3, 2026 |
| Official updates | nationalbankopen.com |
What Happened – Rain Delay At Canadian ( August 2 )
Sunday August 2 was supposed to be the first full day of main draw action at the 2026 Canadian Open across both Montreal and Toronto. Instead it became one of the most weather-disrupted opening days in recent tournament history, with persistent rain affecting both venues simultaneously throughout the day.
Rain disrupted tennis tournaments across North America on Sunday, cancelling the evening session at the Canadian Open in Montreal and halting play in Toronto.
Timeline of events across both cities:
| Time | Montreal (IGA Stadium) | Toronto (Sobeys Stadium) |
| Morning | Rain begins, threatening scheduled play | Heavy rain blankets Toronto |
| 12:30 PM ET | Scheduled start time missed | Scheduled start time missed |
| Early afternoon | Organizers cancelled all ongoing and remaining matches in the day session because of current and forecast weather conditions | All court matches scheduled before 2:00 PM delayed |
| Afternoon | Some matches completed after weather break | Play resumed after nearly 2 hour delay |
| Evening | Evening session cancelled entirely | Night session (Session 3) cancelled entirely |
| End of day | All matches cancelled for tonight. Sunny skies in our future. Action resumes tomorrow | Same announcement issued for Toronto |
The scale of disruption:
The rain delay at Canadian Open 2026 affected both draws simultaneously, making it one of the most comprehensive weather disruptions the tournament has experienced across its modern 12-day format. Players, fans, and broadcasters across both cities faced the same challenge on the same afternoon, with organizers working to salvage as much play as possible before the conditions made continuation impossible.
Rain Delay at Sobeys Stadium Toronto – WTA Draw
Heavy rain blanketed much of Toronto, pushing a scheduled late-morning start into the afternoon. The National Bank Open’s official social media account confirmed the disruption early in the day, announcing that all court matches scheduled before 2:00 PM were delayed and asking fans to stay tuned for schedule updates.
When play eventually resumed after a delay of nearly two hours, the opening match on Centre Court between Venus Williams and Kamilla Rakhimova went ahead, with Rakhimova winning 6-4, 6-1 in one hour and 27 minutes. Katherine Sebov then defeated qualifier Aoi Ito 6-3, 6-4 to become the first Canadian to record a win in Toronto at the 2026 National Bank Open.
Toronto matches status on August 2:
| Match | Status | Result |
| Venus Williams vs Kamilla Rakhimova | Completed after delay | Rakhimova won 6-4, 6-1 |
| Katherine Sebov vs Aoi Ito | Completed after delay | Sebov won 6-3, 6-4 |
| Magdalena Frech vs Leolia Jeanjean | Suspended mid-match on Grandstand | Postponed to August 3 |
| Bianca Andreescu vs Nikola Bartunkova | Night session | Cancelled, rescheduled |
| All other night session matches | Night session | Cancelled entirely |
Night session cancellation:
The August 2 night session (Session 3) has been cancelled. The Ticketing team will be contacting ticket buyers shortly. The cancellation affected all matches scheduled for the evening session at Sobeys Stadium including the highly anticipated return of Bianca Andreescu, who had been due to face Czech teenager Nikola Bartunkova in what would have been one of the most watched matches of the opening week.
Rain Delay at IGA Stadium Montreal – ATP Draw
The Canadian Open rain delay struck Montreal simultaneously with Toronto, with persistent rain forcing organizers at IGA Stadium to suspend and eventually cancel play across the ATP men’s draw on August 2.
In Montreal, organizers cancelled all ongoing and remaining matches in the day session because of current and forecast weather conditions before calling off the night session. The disruption meant that several high-profile first round matches were unable to begin or complete, pushing them into Monday August 3.
Montreal matches status on August 2:
| Match | Status | Result |
| Shang Juncheng vs Adolfo Daniel Vallejo | Completed | Shang won 6-3, 6-3 |
| Jaume Munar vs Rinky Hijikata | Completed after weather break | Munar won 7-6(3), 6-3 |
| Nuno Borges vs Aleksandar Kovacevic | Postponed | Rescheduled to August 3 |
| Michael Zheng vs Miomir Kecmanovic | Postponed | Rescheduled to August 3 |
| Gabriel Diallo vs opponent | Unable to begin | Rescheduled to August 3 |
| Alexis Galarneau vs opponent | Unable to begin | Rescheduled to August 3 |
| All evening session matches | Cancelled | Rescheduled to August 3 |
Canadian players most affected:
The Montreal rain delay had a particularly significant impact on Canadian players. Gabriel Diallo, the Montreal-born ATP title holder competing at his home tournament, was among those unable to begin his first round match. Alexis Galarneau, another Canadian player competing in the main draw, also saw his opening match postponed before play could begin.
The disruption added a day of waiting to what should have been an exciting opening for Canadian tennis fans in Montreal who had planned to watch their home players on the first day of main draw action.
Which Matches Were Affected Across Both Venues
The rain delay at Canadian Open on August 2 produced a mix of completed, suspended, postponed, and cancelled matches across both IGA Stadium in Montreal and Sobeys Stadium in Toronto. Here is the complete picture of how the opening day was disrupted.
Complete match status across both venues:
| Venue | Match | Status |
| Toronto | Venus Williams vs Kamilla Rakhimova | Completed after 2 hour delay |
| Toronto | Katherine Sebov vs Aoi Ito | Completed after delay |
| Toronto | Magdalena Frech vs Leolia Jeanjean | Suspended, moved to August 3 |
| Toronto | Bianca Andreescu vs Nikola Bartunkova | Night session cancelled, moved to August 3 |
| Toronto | All other night session matches | Cancelled, moved to August 3 |
| Montreal | Shang Juncheng vs Adolfo Daniel Vallejo | Completed |
| Montreal | Jaume Munar vs Rinky Hijikata | Completed after weather break |
| Montreal | Nuno Borges vs Aleksandar Kovacevic | Postponed to August 3 |
| Montreal | Michael Zheng vs Miomir Kecmanovic | Postponed to August 3 |
| Montreal | Gabriel Diallo first round | Unable to begin, August 3 |
| Montreal | Alexis Galarneau first round | Unable to begin, August 3 |
| Montreal | All evening session matches | Cancelled, moved to August 3 |
Key observation:
Only a handful of matches were completed on August 2 across both cities combined. The vast majority of scheduled first round action was pushed into Monday August 3, creating a compressed schedule for the opening week of the tournament. Tournament organizers will need to manage the backlog carefully to ensure the draw stays on track for the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals scheduled in the second week.
For the latest confirmed schedule and order of play following the rain disruption, check nationalbankopen.com for daily updates throughout the tournament.
Night Sessions Cancelled – What It Means for Ticket Holders
The cancellation of both evening sessions across Toronto and Montreal on August 2 directly affected thousands of ticket holders who had purchased seats for what should have been one of the most exciting nights of the opening week.
Night session cancellation summary:
| Venue | Session Cancelled | Key Matches Lost |
| Toronto Sobeys Stadium | Session 3, August 2 night | Bianca Andreescu vs Nikola Bartunkova and all other night matches |
| Montreal IGA Stadium | Evening session, August 2 | Gabriel Diallo, Alexis Galarneau and all other evening matches |
What happens to night session tickets:
The August 2 night session (Session 3) has been cancelled. The Ticketing team will be contacting ticket buyers shortly.
For fans who purchased tickets through Tennis Canada or Ticketmaster, the process is straightforward. The ticketing team reaches out directly to the original purchaser with available options. No action is required on the part of ticket holders while they wait to be contacted.
Credit policy for cancelled sessions:
If a session is interrupted before the end of the first match and before 90 minutes of play, the ticketing office will contact the original purchaser of tickets bought through Tennis Canada or Ticketmaster to inform them of this year’s valid credit options. All credits must be applied to the 2026 tournament.
Important exemptions:
Not all ticket categories qualify for credits. The following Toronto ticket categories are exempt from the rain policy and are not eligible for credit or exchange, including all series tickets, premium series tickets, champions club seats, and courtside seats. Holders of these ticket types have access to all Centre Court matches through tournament completion regardless of individual session cancellations.
Canadian Open Rain Delay Ticket and Refund Policy
Understanding the official rain policy at the Canadian Open is essential for any fan attending either IGA Stadium in Montreal or Sobeys Stadium in Toronto during the tournament. The policy applies equally across both venues with some specific differences in which ticket categories are covered.
Core rain policy – both venues:
| Policy Element | Detail |
| Refunds | Not available for rain delays or cancellations |
| Credit eligibility | Available if session interrupted before first match ends AND before 90 minutes of play |
| Credit notification | Ticketing team contacts original purchaser directly |
| Credit validity | Must be applied to the 2026 tournament |
| Action required | None, team contacts you automatically |
| Purchase channel | Must have bought through Tennis Canada or Ticketmaster |
Toronto exempt ticket categories:
The following ticket categories in Toronto are not eligible for credit or exchange under the rain policy:
- All series tickets including Premium Series
- Champions Club seats
- Courtside seats as subscribers of record have access to all Centre Court matches through tournament completion
Montreal exempt ticket categories:
The following ticket categories in Montreal are excluded from the policy and are not eligible for credit or exchange:
- All tournament package tickets for Centre Court and Rogers Court
- Courtside seats
- Level 100 and Level 200 seats
- Press Gallery
- Belvédère Banque Nationale
Practical advice for ticket holders:
Fans who purchased tickets through secondary market platforms rather than Tennis Canada or Ticketmaster directly may not be covered by the official credit policy. Always purchase Canadian Open tickets through official channels to ensure eligibility for weather-related credits if sessions are cancelled or interrupted during the tournament.
For the most current and complete rain policy details for both venues, visit nationalbankopen.com
IGA Stadium vs Sobeys Stadium – How Rain Affects Each Venue Differently
One of the most significant practical differences between the two Canadian Open venues is how each handles rain during play, and the 2026 rain delay highlighted that difference clearly.
Key difference – the roof:
| Factor | IGA Stadium Montreal | Sobeys Stadium Toronto |
| Retractable roof | Yes, Centre Court only | No roof at all |
| Rain protection | Centre Court matches can continue | All play must stop in heavy rain |
| Outer courts | No roof, play suspended in rain | No roof, play suspended in rain |
| Rain advantage | Montreal Centre Court protected | No equivalent protection in Toronto |
| History | Retractable roof installed during renovations | Purpose-built 2004, no roof added |
What the roof advantage means in practice:
IGA Stadium’s retractable roof over Centre Court gives Montreal a significant weather management advantage over Sobeys Stadium. When rain arrives in Montreal, Centre Court matches can continue under the closed roof while outer court play is suspended. Tournament organizers can maintain marquee match scheduling on the main stage even during wet conditions.
At Sobeys Stadium in Toronto, heavy rain stops all play across every court simultaneously. There is no covered option for Centre Court matches, meaning a rain delay in Toronto affects the entire session equally regardless of which court a match is scheduled on.
The retractable roof debate:
Consistent rain delays wreaked havoc for tennis officials and players at the 2023 National Bank Open, reigniting calls for a retractable roof at IGA Stadium in Montreal. While IGA Stadium’s Centre Court already has a roof, the 2026 rain delay has renewed discussion about whether Sobeys Stadium needs similar protection given Toronto’s August weather patterns.
How to Follow Schedule Updates During Rain Delays
When rain hits either venue during the Canadian Open, knowing exactly where to find official schedule updates makes the difference between arriving at the right time and showing up to an empty stadium.
Official sources for rain delay updates:
| Source | What It Shows | How to Access |
| https://nationalbankopen.com/matches-players/match-schedule?tournament=wta | Toronto session status, cancellations, revised schedule | Check regularly during rain |
| https://nationalbankopen.com/matches-players/match-schedule?tournament=atp | Montreal session status, cancellations, revised schedule | Check regularly during rain |
| National Bank Open Toronto on X | Real time rain announcements and play resumption updates | Follow @NBOtoronto |
| National Bank Open Montreal on X | Real time rain announcements and play resumption updates | Follow @NBOmontreal |
| Tennis Canada Instagram | Schedule graphics and session status updates | Follow @TennisCanada |
| nationalbankopen.com official app | Push notifications for session delays and resumptions | Download before attending |
What officials announce during rain delays:
Tournament organizers provide rolling updates through official channels throughout any weather interruption. The sequence of announcements typically follows this pattern, starting with an initial delay announcement confirming which sessions are affected, followed by regular updates on weather conditions and expected resumption times, then either a play resumption announcement with revised court schedules or a session cancellation announcement with ticketing information.
Practical tips for fans during a rain delay:
- Check nationalbankopen.com before leaving for the venue on any day when rain is forecast
- Enable push notifications on the official National Bank Open app for instant updates
- Follow official social media accounts rather than third party sources for the most accurate and timely information
- If attending in person, remain at the venue during short delays as matches can resume at a moment’s notice
- Rain or sun, come prepared and do not head home too quickly if a rain delay hits as matches can resume at a moment’s notice
FAQs
Conclusion
The rain delay at Canadian Open on August 2 disrupted the opening day of main draw action across both IGA Stadium in Montreal and Sobeys Stadium in Toronto, cancelling evening sessions at both venues and pushing dozens of first round matches into Monday August 3.
For ticket holders affected by the night session cancellations, the official process is straightforward. The ticketing team contacts original purchasers directly with credit options. No action is required while you wait to hear from Tennis Canada or Ticketmaster.
For fans following the tournament from home, official schedule updates are published in real time on nationalbankopen.com and through the National Bank Open social media accounts on X and Instagram. Monday August 3 brings a full day of rescheduled and new first round action across both cities as the 2026 Canadian Open gets properly underway.
To follow all confirmed match results and the updated schedule as the tournament progresses, explore our complete Canadian Open results page for the latest scores from both Montreal and Toronto.
