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It’s been mentioned time and time once more: we’re in a golden age of Canadian tennis. Barring any unexpected or unlucky occasions, 2023 ought to exhibit {that a} good period is certainly upon us.
In 2022, at least seven Canadians settled within the prime 100s: No.7 Gabriela Dabrowski (doubles), No.40 Leylah Fernandez, No.45 Bianca Andreescu, No.65 Rebecca Marino, No.6 Félix Auger-Aliassime, No.18 Denis Shapovalov and No.100 Vasek Pospisil.
My colleague Tom Tebbutt recapped their seasons right here:
Tebbutt: The women 2022 – strength in numbers
Tebbutt: The men 2022 – Félix shows the way
Their successes are the fruits of a decade of onerous work by Tennis Canada to pave the street opened by Eugenie Bouchard and Milos Raonic—one constructed on hope and motivation.
Looking forward to 2023, I referred to as upon Sylvain Bruneau and Guillaume Marx, who lead Tennis Canada’s elite packages, for some perception.
After I spoke to them, they have been in Florida with our younger abilities to supervise their coaching and aggressive efforts (extra on that within the subsequent instalment on this collection). On December 13, they met with the media to debate Tennis Canada’s 12 months in evaluation.
Along with all the nice issues they needed to say in regards to the seven wonders of Canadian tennis, they briefly mentioned their very own expectations for the upcoming season.
Eyes on the Prime 20 for Leylah and Bianca
Sylvain Bruneau is definite that Leylah Fernandez and Bianca Andreescu will transfer up within the rankings—in all probability into the Prime 20, if not higher. And no, there aren’t any rose-coloured glasses concerned.
“It’s not solely optimistic however very sensible to assume that they’ll have made vital progress within the rankings by the tip of 2023,” he mentioned.
“Accidents induced them to overlook lengthy intervals this 12 months. Bianca solely performed her first match in mid-April, in Stuttgart. So, she ought to positively transfer up and make a stable push, since she hasn’t obtained any factors to defend within the first 4 months of the 12 months. For Leylah, it’s the alternative. She obtained the 12 months off to a terrific begin till Roland-Garros, however her foot harm difficult issues. Nonetheless, she was No.13 going into the Nationwide Financial institution Open. After I coached them on the latest BJK Cup Finals, Leylah impressed me as soon as once more together with her angle and dedication. That’s very encouraging.”
As for Rebecca Marino, who gained a title in 2022 and moved up 80 spots in 11 months (and practically 200 spots over the previous two years), each little bit of headway is a victory. Everyone knows how far she’s come.
However as she circles the Prime 50, issues will get dicier. Be that as it could, nothing in regards to the resilient British Columbian surprises Sylvain Bruneau.
“Rebecca will begin 2023 in a greater place,” he mentioned. “She gained’t should undergo the qualifying rounds of each match and can enter the primary draw of the Slams. Her schedule can be much less hectic. I actually imagine she will proceed to progress.”
In December, Marino spent a number of weeks in Mexico getting ready together with her new coach Bruno Echegaray, who’s labored with different Canadians together with Stéphanie Dubois, Marie-Ève Pelletier and Françoise Abanda.
Bianca Andreescu additionally has a brand new coach. In late November, she introduced she’d teamed up with fellow Canadian Christophe Lambert, who till lately was the director of excessive efficiency at Tennis New Zealand.
It’s a reunion of kinds, because the two collaborated when Bianca was an adolescent. “Christophe has held a number of positions at Tennis Canada, within the Maritimes and in Toronto. Bianca is aware of him very effectively and believes going again to her roots will do her good as she reconnects with a coach who helped her when she was 12 and 13 years outdated,” commented Bruneau. “Keep in mind 2019? Bianca’s enormous push began in New Zealand. I wasn’t there, however Christophe was there for each match. I talked to Bianca a number of days in the past, and he or she mentioned issues have been already going nice.”
And let’s not neglect Eugenie Bouchard, with whom Sylvain stays in contact: “She’s in Florida. She’s coaching and enjoying quite a bit with the group of kids on the market. She’s very motivated and can be in Australia in January. She needs to progress in 2023.”
Onwards and upwards for Félix and Denis
So far as Canadian males’s tennis, Guillaume Marx expressed plenty of admiration for Félix Auger-Aliassime, who has a robust foothold within the Prime 10. However that doesn’t imply he can relaxation on his laurels.
“For Félix, simply defending all of the factors he earned in 2022, and particularly throughout his wonderful fall run, can be an enormous problem. However he’s gained a lot confidence, and I predict the Prime 5 and perhaps even a Slam last. So far as Denis, I like what I noticed after his surreal exit from the NBO. His 16–7 file is encouraging, and he is aware of easy methods to mix his offensive tennis with somewhat extra persistence on his returns. I believe he’ll get again into the Prime 10.”
When speaking about Vasek Pospisil, Marx praised the dedication of the veteran, who rose from No.149 to No.100 within the final two months of the 12 months. “I can see him getting again into the Prime 70. And why not even greater?” mentioned the coach.
And Marx didn’t neglect Milos Raonic in his 2023 predictions. “I spoke to him on the cellphone a number of days in the past. He assured me he nonetheless plans on coming again however gained’t speak about it formally till he’s obtained a set timeline and may make an announcement. So, we are able to infer it gained’t be within the quick time period. However we hope to see him again this spring.”
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