Canadians Cross, Kupres, Arseneault Sweep Saskatoon

The host nation continued its dominance in Western Canada with a sweep on the ITF W35 occasion in Saskatoon final week. Kayla Cross received the singles title whereas Ariana Arseneault and Mia Kupres picked up the doubles crown. 

Cross’ victory within the singles marked the third yr in a row that the title was received by a Canadian, though that streak was already assured by early Saturday when Kupres defeated the final non-Canadian standing, Jessica Failla, within the first semifinal.  

With the second semi pitting Cross in opposition to fellow Canadian and prime seed Stacey Fung, the hosts have been assured a house winner as soon as once more following Victoria Mboko’s back-to-back titles in 2022-2023. 

It’s the first skilled singles title of the 19-year-old’s profession. She was denied on house soil final month at an ITF event in Granby however a few provinces over, she received the job performed, rallying from a set right down to defeat Kupres within the ultimate 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. 

Cross defeated a Canadian in all 5 of her matches. She began with two wins over promising juniors Nadia Lagaev and Emma Dong back-to-back then cruised previous Arseneault and Fung, dropping simply three video games in every match, earlier than having her hardest take a look at in opposition to Kupres within the ultimate. 

Kupres didn’t go away Saskatoon empty-handed, nevertheless. She and Arseneault continued their good summer season of 2024 by claiming their second title as a staff in simply their third event collectively. 

Contemporary off a title in their debut in Granby after which reaching the quarter-finals of the WTA 1000 National Bank Open in Toronto, the 2 NCAA gamers have been the highest seeds in Saskatoon and performed prefer it, not dropping a set on their technique to victory. 

They beat a fellow all-Canadian pair of Catherine Gagnon and Alexia Jacobs within the semifinals after which bested second seeds Hiroko Kuawata of Japan and Maribella Zamarripa of america within the ultimate 6-4, 6-3. 

The Saskatoon victory is Arseneault’s fourth ITF doubles title and third for Kupres, who additionally received the NCAA national team title with Texas A&M this spring.