Photo : Martin Sidorjak
Hopes will be high for the Canadians competing over the next fortnight at Wimbledon after a highly successful run of events in the lead-up to the next major on the calendar.
Just last week, two more Canadian women reached finals on the English lawns. Now they will be hoping to replicate that success at the All England Club.
Here’s what you need to know.
In Case You Missed It: Close Calls for Fernandez, Dabrowski
Leylah Annie Fernandez and Gabriela Dabrowski will be looking to carry momentum from the Rothesay International in Eastbourne last week down to Wimbledon as both played for titles ahead of the third major of the year.
Fernandez had a brilliant run in singles which included wins over Barbora Krejcikova, Harriet Dart, and Madison Keys to reach her first-ever final on grass, where she was beaten by Daria Kasatkina.
Dabrowski very nearly claimed her second title of the grass swing with Erin Routliffe, serving for the match in Eastbourne against Lyudmyla Kichenok and Jelena Ostapenko, but ultimately fell in a match tiebreak.
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Three of the four Canadian women competing this upcoming fortnight at the All England Club reached finals on grass in the leadup to the Championships; Bianca Andreescu, Fernandez, and Dabrowski.
What to Watch: History Awaits at Wimbledon
Six Canadians are competing this week on the lawns of the All England Club at the third Grand Slam event of the year: Wimbledon.
Two got their campaigns underway on Monday. Denis Shapovalov upset No. 19 seed Nicolas Jarry in straight sets, while Bianca Andreescu cruised past Jaqueline Cristian, also in straight sets.
The other three Canadians in the singles draw, Leylah Annie Fernandez, Félix Auger-Aliassime, and Marina Stakusic, are expected to play their opening matches on Tuesday.
Read also: ATP Power Rankings – Young Guns Look to Cement Top Dog Status at Wimbledon
Stakusic is competing in her first Grand Slam main draw, having come through qualifying for the first time in her career.
Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe are the second seeds in the women’s doubles draw. Fernandez is also playing doubles with Ena Shibahara. Shapovalov is teaming up with Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Click here to read the full preview of the Canadians’ draws at Wimbledon.
Under the Radar: U15s Shining
Canada’s juniors had a strong week, with a couple of members of Canada’s U15 Prospect Team putting up some notable results.
At a Tennis Europe U14 event in Edinburgh, Scotland, Alexandre Collin won the boys doubles title alongside Czech partner Daniel Soukup. The pair lost just one set all week and beat the top seeds from Great Britain in the final.
On home soil at the J30 event in Winnipeg, the host nation swept not only the titles, but the finals entirely as each title match was an all-Canadian affair.
Elicia Lin, the second seed in the girls singles, took home the title, beating U15 Prospect Team member Amy Shen in the final. Lin doubled up in Winnipeg, also winning the doubles with Havana Kadi.
Read more: Team Canada’s Paris 2024 tennis team unveiled
Boys top seed Gary Jiang won the title, beating Dani Farran in the final. Farran got his revenge in the doubles final, as he and partner Jakob Gaudreau Barnes beat Jiang and Matthew Jian Hao Lee for the title.
This week, professional tennis returns to Canada as Laval plays host to a M25 event, the first pro event in Canada since March. Liam Draxl leads the field as the top seed.
Click here to read the full Laval preview.
You can follow the Canadians in action every week here.
