First-Ever National Bank Open Wheelchair Tournament Set to Get Underway in Toronto

Four of Canada’s top wheelchair tennis players are set to hit the courts in Toronto on Sunday for the opening day of the National Bank Open’s first-ever wheelchair tennis tournament. The competition will run from August 3-5 and will feature six singles, and three doubles matches.

The competition will run from August 3-5 and will feature six singles, and three doubles matches.

The National Bank Open joins the Miami Open as the only two ATP Masters 1000s to host a wheelchair tournament.

Here’s all you need to know about the players and when you can see them in action.

Rob Shaw

Canada’s highest-ranked player in the quad division, Rob Shaw is 11^th in the ITF singles rankings, once achieving a career-high ofNo. 6. The North Bay-native is a two-time Paralympian – representing Canada last summer in Paris – and claimed Parapan Am Gold in Lima, Peru, in 2019.

Read also: Rob Shaw - “You may think my low points have come after big losses, but they’ve been nothing to do with tennis”

Shaw has had success in doubles as well. The 35-year-old is ranked 8^th in the quad division and is a three-time Grand Slam finalist. Shaw has two doubles titles this year in Rome and Georgia. 

Shawn Courchesne

Shawn Courchesne is ranked 42^nd in the ITF singles rankings, and 28^th in doubles in the quad division. The Brampton-native’s successes this year have all come in Portugal, winning a pair of titles.

Read also: Courchesne’s Double Breakthrough in Portugal

In Canada, Courchesne is a three-time national doubles finalist.

Thomas Venos

The highest-ranked Canadian in the men’s division, singles world No. 37 Thomas Venos has seven ITF titles to his name plus three U.S. college championships with the University of Alabama.

Read also: Canadian Runners-Up at First Domestic Event of 2025

Venos’ doubles resumé is even grander. The Anmore-native has earned 14 ITF doubles titles and four on the college level. The 26-year-old also represented Canada twice at the Parapan Am Games and is a five-time Canadian singles and doubles champion.

Barry Henderson 

Venos’ doubles partner at the 2023 Parapan Am Games, Barry Henderson is 75^th in the doubles men’s division. The Mission-native is a five-time Canadian doubles champion and has won three ITF Futures titles.

Read also: Wheelchair Tennis Heading to the National Bank Open

In singles, Henderson has reached three finals and made the semi-final on home soil twice this year, in Markham and Vancouver.

*All matches will be played on Court 4

Day 1 – August 3

• Starting at 4:30 PM
  • Thomas Venos vs Shawn Courchesne
• Followed by
  • Barry Henderson vs Rob Shaw
• Followed by
  • Venos/Shaw vs Henderson/Courchesne

Day 2 – August 4

• Starting at 4:30 PM
  • Thomas Venos vs Rob Shaw
• Followed by
  • Barry Henderson vs Shawn Courchesne
• Followed by
  • Venos/Courchesne vs Henderson/Shaw

Day 3 – August 5

• Starting at 4:30 PM
  • Rob Shaw vs Shawn Courchesne
• Followed by
  • Thomas Venos vs Barry Henderson
• Followed by
  • Venos/Henderson vs Shaw/Courchesne

Feature Photo: Mauricio Paiz