The North American hard-court swing hits full throttle from August 2 to August 13, 2026, as the National Bank Open presented by Rogers unfolds across two major Canadian hubs. The historic tournament splits its prestige between the Stade IGA in Montréal hosting the ATP Masters 1000 event and the Sobeys Stadium in Toronto staging the WTA 1000 competition. Serving as the ultimate proving ground before the final Grand Slam of the year at Flushing Meadows, this fortnight demands absolute broadcast vigilance for fans tracking every shift in momentum.
For viewers across Italy, comprehensive multi-platform coverage is anchored by Sky Sport and streaming service NOW. Navigating the sprawling match schedules requires a clear understanding of channel allocations, interactive viewing features, and the crowded Italian contingent looking to make deep runs on North American cement.
Broadcast Logistics and Multi-Platform Viewing
Sky Sport dedicates three primary linear channels to the dual Canadian tournaments, positioning Sky Sport Tennis (Channel 203) as the designated tournament central court. Action is heavily supported by Sky Sport Uno (Channel 201) and Sky Sport Arena, carrying daily live broadcasts generally starting at 17:00 local time through the opening rounds.
Satellite subscribers utilizing Sky Q can unlock Sky Sport Plus via the green button on their remote on channel 203, while Sky Glass users connected to the internet can access the same interactive mosaic. This feature allows fans to jump straight into individual outer-court feeds produced directly by the ATP and WTA, alongside real-time updates for live singles rankings. Similarly, streaming subscribers on NOW gain access to Extra Match, duplicating the multi-court functionality for digital devices. Mobile viewing is fully supported via the Sky Go application.
The expert commentary team deployed by the network features play-by-play voices Elena Pero, Luca Boschetto, Alessandro Lupi, Pietro Nicolodi, Dario Massara, Dalila Setti, Federico Ferrero, Riccardo Bisti, Nicolò Ramella, Elia Faggion, and Matteo Sfolcini. Tactical analysis is provided by Barbara Reggi, Stefano Pescosolido, Nicolò Cotto, Andrea Arnaboldi, and Gianluca Pozzi.
The Italian Contingent: Draws and Projected Roadblocks
A formidable group of seven Italian men enters the ATP Masters 1000 main draw in Montreal, bringing distinct physical profiles and tactical questions to the hard courts:
- [6] Flavio Cobolli: Receives a first-round bye, awaiting the winner of the match between Daniel Altmaier/Hanfmann or a qualifier in the second round, with a potential quarterfinal collision course against home favorite Felix Auger-Aliassime.
- [12] Lorenzo Musetti: Back in Masters 1000 action with a opening bye, set to face either Martin Landaluce or a qualifier.
- [20] Luciano Darderi: Earns a first-round bye, meeting Gabriel Diallo or a qualifier in round two.
- [31] Mattia Arnaldi: Bypasses the opening hurdle, facing Fabian Marozsan or a qualifier next.
- Matteo Berrettini: Faces a compelling opening test against Argentina's Mariano Navone, holding a 2-0 head-to-head advantage over the world No. 44. Berrettini and Musetti sit in the same quarter of the draw, raising the prospect of an all-Italian quarterfinal showdown.
- Mattia Bellucci: Draws Sebastian Baez of Argentina in the first round.
- Lorenzo Sonego: Opens against Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor, with a daunting potential second-round assignment against top seed Alexander Zverev.
On the women's side at the WTA 1000 event in Toronto, Elisabetta Cocciaretto secures direct entry into the main draw.
Tournament Chronology and Key Broadcast Dates
As the tournament progresses deeper into the second week, broadcast windows narrow to showcase high-stakes elimination rounds:
| Phase | Dates | Primary Broadcast Channels |
|---|---|---|
| Early Rounds & R32 | August 2 – August 9 | Sky Sport Tennis, Sky Sport Arena, Sky Sport Uno, NOW |
| Quarterfinals | August 10 – August 11 | Sky Sport Uno (Montreal), Sky Sport Tennis (Toronto) |
| Semifinals | August 12 | Sky Sport Uno (Montreal), Sky Sport Tennis (Toronto) |
| Finals | August 13 | Sky Sport Uno & Sky Sport Tennis (WTA Toronto at Midnight, ATP Montreal at 02:00) |
Evidence-Led Forecast: Navigating the Hard-Court Transition
The decisive early battlegrounds will test how quickly European-based clay specialists like Navone and Baez adapt their sliding mechanics and depth control on faster cement. For the Italian contingent, Berrettini's first-round encounter against Navone serves as an immediate barometer of his serving potency against a relentless retriever. If Berrettini establishes early first-serve dominance, his path toward the second week remains wide open. However, the ultimate counter-case rests on the physical toll of the grueling August humidity and the depth of the draw, where second-round encounters against established seeds leave little room for error. Viewers utilizing Sky Sport Plus or Extra Match will capture every tactical shift live as the tour de force toward New York officially commences.
Sources
These sources formed the evidence pack for this article. Links open the original publisher; inclusion does not imply endorsement.
- nowtv.it original
- sportface.it original
- Ubitennis original
- programmi.sky.it original
- zazoom.it original
- Sky Sport original
- Quotidiano Nazionale original
