With the early rounds now over, the competition is heating up at the 2026 National Bank Open in Toronto. Day 5 brings a packed slate of eight intriguing clashes, including World No. 1 and four-time Major champion Aryna Sabalenka in action. But that is far from all, and as always, we here at LWOT will be predicting each and every encounter for you. Who do you think will advance to the last 16?
WTA Toronto Day 5 Predictions
Elina Svitolina vs Anastasia Potapova
Head-to-head: Svitolina 1-0 Potapova
After a great first half of the year, Elina Svitolina’s form has started to decline since the grass swing, although physical issues have not helped her. Now in Toronto, she finds herself up against Anastasia Potapova in the round of 32. This matchup will be decided by whether Svitolina can successfully counterpunch Potapova’s power and frustrate her into making a host of unforced errors. Potapova at her best can win this match, but she is just not consistent enough from the back of the court. Expect the Ukrainian to get a confidence-inducing boost on the hard courts and win this match in three sets.
Prediction: Svitolina in 3
Nikola Bartunkova vs Amanda Anisimova
Head-to-head: First meeting
Czech youngster Nikola Bartunkova has shown this year that she likes to play an aggressive style of tennis, mixing her baseline game with drop shots and volleys to keep her opponents guessing. Now she faces a top player in Amanda Anisimova. Anisimova has not had the season many expected entering the year, but at times she has shown flashes of her all-attacking baseline game. Bartunkova’s style should make this an exciting watch, but ultimately, Anisimova’s serve and backhand are just too big of weapons for me to ignore as the American gets herself into the next round.
Prediction: Anisimova in 2
Marta Kostyuk vs Madison Keys
Head-to-head: Kostyuk 0-2 Keys
Although Madison Keys has had all the success in this matchup so far, both of those matches were played on grass and more than a couple of years ago. So far this year, Marta Kostyuk has played at a Top 8 level, and she will look to continue that during this North American hard-court summer. This matchup will be determined by which player can take the upper hand from the back of the court more often. Keys will look to make this an all-out attacking match, while Kostyuk will look to slow the pace, use her defensive skills, and then take the initiative when presented with the opportunity. Keys did have a really solid opening match in Toronto, where she dropped only three games, but Kostyuk has just been the overall more solid player this year. I think Kostyuk raises her level to get her first win against Keys.
Prediction: Kostyuk in 3
Aryna Sabalenka vs Shuai Zhang
Head-to-head: Sabalenka 4-1 Zhang
Shuai Zhang is an aggressive baseline player who relies on consistently hitting deep, powerful groundstrokes and forcing her opponents into making errors. Unfortunately for her, Aryna Sabalenka also does that and is, in fact, the best in the world at doing so. Both players will look to play their aggressive best tennis and take the racket out of their opponent’s hands. While at times Sabalenka has not been as consistent this year as she was during the previous couple of seasons, she should still have more than enough power and stability from the back of the court to win this match without any serious issue.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2
Main Image Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
