Cross earns wild card entry
London tennis player Kayla Cross has secured a wild-card spot in the main draw of the National Bank Open, marking her second consecutive appearance in Canada’s largest tennis tournament. The event is scheduled to take place in Toronto from August 1-13. Cross, who holds a career-high ranking, recently discussed the upcoming challenge and opportunity.
Her entry into the main draw follows a significant victory in Granby, where she won the women’s singles title at the Granby National Bank Open. This win was described as the biggest singles title of her career to date, contributing to her ranking and helping her secure wild cards for other tournaments, including the National Bank Open.
Cross noted that last year she felt more nervous during the tournament. This year, she approached the qualifying process with a more open mindset, focusing on her tennis. She mentioned that while the thought of earning the wild card was present, she managed to concentrate on each match individually, which she believes helped her performance.
Playing on home soil
Playing in Canada offers a distinct experience for Cross. She highlighted the support from the crowd during her win in Granby, describing it as “insane.” She recalled instances where the crowd’s energy helped her recover in matches where she was trailing significantly.
The prospect of playing in Toronto is particularly special for Cross, as it means having friends and family present. While acknowledging a certain pressure that comes with performing in front of familiar faces, she believes the knowledge that they wish for her success overrides any apprehension. She also noted that crowds in Canada or one’s home country tend to be more supportive of their local players.
Cross’s journey in competitive tennis began at a young age, influenced by her father and two older brothers who also played. She doesn’t recall a time when she wasn’t involved in tennis, starting around the age of four. Around age 12, she began dedicating more effort to the sport, and by 15, tennis became her sole focus, driven by a desire to pursue it as a career.
Her training involved locations such as the Hunt Club and Greenhills, and eventually, she began training several days a week in Toronto. This commitment led to her family renting a place in Toronto to facilitate her training schedule, after years of daily commutes.
Motivation and future aspirations
Cross finds motivation in the potential to compete on major stages like the National Bank Open and the main draws of Grand Slams. She emphasizes a continuous drive for the next level, even after achieving significant milestones. She also stresses the importance of celebrating smaller victories to maintain motivation and avoid feeling overwhelmed by long-term goals.
The National Bank Open will feature other Canadian players. Bianca Andreescu will team up with Cross in the doubles bracket. This pairing recently represented Canada together at the Billie Jean King Cup. Tournament director Karl Hale emphasized the significance of the National Bank Open as an opportunity for Canadian players to compete at home, noting that eight Canadians are in the main draw, reflecting the growth of tennis in the country.
Other Canadian wild card recipients for the main draw include Katherine Sebov, Cadence Brace, Rebecca Marino, Carol Zhao, and Ariana Arseneault. Venus Williams also received a main-draw wild card. Additionally, Avery Alexander and Ana Grubor have received qualifying wild cards for the tournament.
Carol Zhao will make her final home open appearance at this tournament, as she has confirmed that the 2026 season will be her last on the professional tour. Zhao, who turned professional in 2016, has represented Canada at the Billie Jean King Cup seven times and won doubles gold alongside Gabriela Dabrowski at the 2015 Pan American Games.
Noelle van Lottum, Tennis Canada‘s head of women’s tennis, acknowledged Zhao’s respected standing in Canadian tennis and Arseneault’s improving game as reasons for their wild card selections. The National Bank Open is set to begin on August 1.
Source: lfpress.com
