As the primary Asian swing of the 2020s strikes alongside, it’s taking a little bit of time for the Canadians to get used to enjoying within the far east.
Final week didn’t go effectively for the Canadians competing, however that was only a warm-up for the a lot greater occasions going down this week.
Right here’s what you want to know.
In Case You Missed It: Gradual Begin within the Far East
When it rains, it pours and nobody understands that higher than Felix Auger-Aliassime in the mean time.
2023 on the entire and particularly the previous few months have been unkind to the Canadian and the ATP 500 occasion in Beijing was no totally different as he drew world No. 4 Holger Rune within the first spherical.
In a battle of gamers who’ve been having a tough go, it was the Dane enjoying a bit cleaner and a bit extra effectively handy Auger-Aliassime his eighth opening-match loss in his final 10 occasions.
The sector in Beijing lived as much as the hype, with Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev and Jannik Sinner reaching the semifinals.
Over in Tokyo, Gabriela Dabrowski suffered a shock loss in her opening match with Erin Routliffe. The US Open champions had been the highest seeds however had been competing quickly after making the journey throughout the Pacific from Guadalajara.
They had been upset by native favourites Eri Hozumi and Makoto Ninomiya, who went on to achieve the ultimate.
There have been some surprises within the singles attract Tokyo as effectively, as Veronika Kudermetova received the title, defeating Iga Swiatek and Jessica Pegula on her technique to victory.
What to Watch: Asian Swing Ups the Ante
The final WTA 1000 occasion of the yr is going down this week in Beijing, having acquired underway on Saturday.
Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe will look to bounce again because the fourth seeds within the doubles draw. They’re within the high half with No. 1 seeds Storm Hunter and Elise Mertens, who lately beat them within the Guadalajara ultimate.
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Aryna Sabalenka is making her debut because the world No. 1. She received a blockbuster within the first spherical over former main champion Sofia Kenin. Iga Swiatek, who’s seeded second within the singles, won’t be the highest seed at a event for the primary time for the reason that Miami Open in March 2022. Coco Gauff can be enjoying her first occasion since changing into a Grand Slam champion on the US Open.
9 of the world’s High 10 are competing in Beijing, with solely No. 9 Karolina Muchova absent.
There are not any Canadians within the singles essential attract Beijing. Each Leylah Annie Fernandez and Rebecca Marino misplaced within the first spherical of qualifying.
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Over in Shanghai, the lads return to the Asian Masters 1000 occasion for the primary time since 2019. The occasion will get underway on Wednesday.
Felix Auger-Aliassime is the lone Canadian within the draw. He’s seeded 14th and can open in opposition to both a qualifier or Marton Fucsovics after a bye. He may play twentieth seed Francisco Cerundolo within the third spherical and is within the backside part with No. 2 seed Daniil Medvedev. Potential quarter-final opponents embrace No. 6 Jannik Sinner, No. 9 Alexander Zverev, and US Open semifinalist Ben Shelton.
Steven Diez can also be nonetheless alive in qualifying.
Carlos Alcaraz is the highest seed, as world No. 1 Novak Djokovic is skipping the occasion. Denis Shapovalov and Milos Raonic are each not making the journey.
For the second week in a row, the ATP occasions began mid-week and can wrap up early this week. The lads’s Beijing occasion performed it’s quarter-finals on Monday, with the ultimate to be performed on Wednesday. Over in Astana, Kazakhstan, the ultimate can be performed on Tuesday.
Below the Radar: Dominant Draxl
Whereas it was a disappointing week on the principle excursions, Canada had motive to rejoice as Liam Draxl received the title on the M15 occasion in Albuquerque, NM in dominant trend.
Draxl, the second seed on the occasion, didn’t drop a set in 5 matches. He opened the event with a double bagel win and capped off the run with a 6-0, 6-2 victory within the ultimate in opposition to an American qualifier William Grant.
It’s the fourth ITF singles title of Draxl’s profession and his second victory of 2023.
Layne Sleeth was the highest Canadian girl on the ITF circuit final week, reaching the semifinals of the W25 occasion in Hilton Head, SC. She didn’t drop a set on her technique to the ultimate 4, meting out a pair of bagels and taking down second seed Chieh-Yu Hsu with the lack of simply three video games within the quarter-finals.
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It was the primary ITF semifinal since 2019 for Sleeth, who performs within the NCAA.
A few occasions to regulate this week embrace the ATP Challenger in Tiburon, California the place 5 Canadians are competing together with Davis Cup staff members Alexis Galarneau, Vasek Pospisil, and Kelsey Stevenson.
There are massive Canadian contingents on the W60 occasion in Rome and M15 in Ithica, NY.
On Canadian soil, there’s an ITF Wheelchair occasion in Fredericton, NB.
You possibly can comply with the Canadians in motion each week right here.
