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The street to Melbourne continues to warmth up and extra Canadians get their seasons underway this week, together with Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime in singles.
After the nation made its first look on the United Cup final week, the quantity ramps up with Canadians in motion on all ranges of the tour in addition to in qualifying on the Australian Open.
Right here’s what you should know.
In Case You Missed It: Canada’s Fast United Cup
Canada made its debut on the United Cup final week, having missed the inaugural version in 2023. After a robust begin with a win over Chile, the Canadian squad was swept by Greece to see their marketing campaign finish within the Group Stage.
Leylah Annie Fernandez went 2-1, profitable her singles and blended doubles matches, the latter with Steven Diez, in opposition to Chile, however misplaced to Maria Sakkari within the Greece tie. Diez misplaced each his males’s singles matches, whereas Felix Auger-Aliassime and Stacey Fung have been defeated within the ultimate blended doubles match.
Gabriela Dabrowski bought her 2024 season underway with Erin Routliffe in Adelaide early this week nevertheless it was not the beginning that the US Open champions have been hoping for as they have been upset within the first spherical by Katerina Siniakova and Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
What to Watch: Boys are Again
Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov will each kick off their singles seasons this week on the ATP 250 occasion in Auckland. The highest two Canadian males are each coming off accidents on the finish of 2023.
Learn Additionally: Shapovalov, Diallo, Galarneau, and Pospisil to Represent Canada at the Davis Cup Qualifiers in Montreal
For Shapovalov, will probably be his first occasion since reaching the spherical of 16 at Wimbledon. He meets seventh seed Sebastian Ofner within the first spherical. A win would see him face one of many Spanish Robertos, both Bautista Agut or Carballes Baena, in spherical two. Prime seed Ben Shelton is his potential quarter-final opponent.
Auger-Aliassime has not performed singles because the Paris Masters final fall, though he seemed strong in his United Cup blended doubles match. He’s seeded fourth in Auckland and has a first-round bye. His second-round opponent might be Daniel Altmaier and he might face No. 6 seed Arthur Fils within the quarter-finals.
The Canadian No. 1 is within the backside half of the draw with second seed Cameron Norrie.
Below the Radar: Canadians in Australian Open Qualifying
Qualifying for the primary main of the 12 months begins this week in Melbourne with 5 Canadians trying to clinch their place in the principle draw of the Australian Open.
The draw was unkind to the Canadian girls, as solely two of the 4 within the draw can qualify as they’re all on collision programs with a countrywoman.
Stacey Fung, who’s making her first try at qualifying for a Grand Slam singles important draw, opens in opposition to 25th seed Julia Riera and will face fellow Canadian Carol Zhao, who kicks off her marketing campaign in opposition to Valeria Savinykh, within the third and ultimate spherical of qualies.
Zhao might play third seed Katie Volynets within the second spherical.
Katherine Sebov is trying to qualify for Australia for the second 12 months in a row however begins in opposition to No. 9 seed Emiliana Arango and will face Rebecca Marino within the ultimate spherical. Marino opens her large in opposition to Ya Yi Yang.
Gabriel Diallo is the lone Canadian man in qualifying. He’s seeded 29th and can face Pablo Llamas Ruiz in his opening match. He might face former world No. 7 and 2017 Australian Open quarter-finalist David Goffin within the ultimate spherical.
This might be Diallo’s second try at qualifying for the Australian Open. In 2023, he misplaced within the first spherical. His greatest run at qualifying for a significant got here final 12 months at Wimbledon when he bought to the second spherical.
Read Also: Top ATP Stories of 2023
Diallo arrives in Melbourne following a semifinal run in his first occasion of the 12 months on the ATP Challenger in Canberra, the place he misplaced to the eventual champion Dominik Koepfer.
Steven Diez will go from the United Cup to an ATP Challenger occasion in Thailand together with Kelsey Stevenson. There are contingents of Canadian girls taking part in at ITF occasions in Naples, Florida and Fort-de-France, Martinique, whereas Rob Shaw kicks off his 12 months on the wheelchair circuit at an ITF occasion in Melbourne.
You may comply with the Canadians in motion each week here.
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