Game! Set! Match! Top Women Tennis Players head to Montreal for Rogers Cup

The very best tennis players in the world are coming to Montreal for the 2016 Rogers Cup presented by National Bank. World No. 1 player Serena Williams will attempt to win her fourth Rogers Cup crown in a field that features 30 of the Top 35 WTA players and nine of the Top 10. The matches will be held at Uniprix Stadium where festive daily off-court activities, a variety of dining options, retail shopping, games, performances and promotions create a festival-like atmosphere at the tournament.

“We have an excellent player field this year, showing that Rogers Cup continues to be an important stop on the tour for the top women in the world,” says tournament director Eugene Lapierre. “We are one of the biggest women’s events across the globe.”

Past tournament winners returning include Agnieszka Radwanska (2014), Petra Kvitova (2012) and Caroline Wozniacki (2010). Tennis Canada, the non-profit national sport association which runs the Rogers Cup, has announced 20 players ranked inside the Top 75 will battle for the twelve remaining places in the main draw. Included on this list is 2016 Wimbledon semifinalist Elena Vesnina, expected to be the top seed for qualifying in Montreal.

The qualifying sessions (July 23-24) will be held on the opening weekend (July 22-24) when admission is free for all in what is a great opportunity to get closer to the best players in the world.

The complete entry list can be viewed here. The 56-player field for the Montreal tournament will be completed at a later date with the addition of wild cards and qualifiers. Tournament prize money totals $2.7 million U.S.

Also on opening weekend, Major League Soccer’s hugely popular Montreal Impact return to battle WTA players on July 24. The Impact will field their A team with Patrice Bernier and Ignacio Piatti confirmed to participate. Tickets are free at the door at Uniprix Stadium.

Meanwhile, Montreal tennis star Eugenie Bouchard will play her first match during the afternoon session on Tuesday, July 26.

There is plenty to see and do off-court as well. You can shop for the latest tennis fashions and tennis equipment at on-site retail outlets. Dining options are also varied, ranging from basic hotdogs and beer at stadium kiosks to a Bistro SAQ, where fans can enjoy refreshments supplied by the SAQ. There is a rooftop terrace, a barbeque and poutine kiosk, and Loge tickets get you exclusive access to the Club Platine Banque Nationale Gestion Privee 1859 restaurant as well as access to the Lounge VIP Mazda.

Lastly, in 2011, Uniprix Stadium set a world record for tournament attendance, with 213,760 ticketholders. The crowds are famously loud and enthusiastic, and their large numbers means traffic and parking can be difficult. So during the entire run of the tournament, ticketholders have free access to the STM public transportation system on the day of their match.