The second Grand Slam occasion of the season has formally arrived and the Canadians wish to make their mark on the French Open.
Whereas the wheelchair occasion at Roland-Garros doesn’t get underway till subsequent week, there may be loads of hope for some good outcomes after one more large week by Canada’s quad athletes.
Right here’s what it is advisable know.
In Case You Missed It: Diallo Qualifies for First Main
Gabriel Diallo took the subsequent step in his burgeoning profession final week in Paris, profitable a trio of three-setters to ebook his place in the primary draw of a Grand Slam for the primary time in his profession.
He defeated Genaro Alberto Olivieri, Marco Trungelliti, and Alexander Ritschard to qualify for the primary attract Roland-Garros, which can also be his first ATP Tour principal draw on clay.
Marina Stakusic got here near reaching her first Grand Slam principal draw as properly however misplaced within the remaining spherical of qualifying to Yuliia Starodubtseva.
Learn additionally: ATP Energy Rankings Forward of Roland-Garros
Rebecca Marino misplaced in spherical two of qualifying, whereas Carol Zhao and Alexis Galarneau have been crushed within the first spherical.
On the primary excursions, each Leylah Annie Fernandez and Denis Shapovalov performed warm-up occasions seeking to construct momentum heading into Roland-Garros, however each misplaced their second-round singles matches in three units in Strasbourg and Geneva respectively.
Fernandez did attain the semifinals of the doubles with Erin Routliffe, however misplaced 11-9 within the match tiebreak to Asia Muhammad and Aldila Sutjiadi.
What to Watch: Andreescu’s Return Highlights Canadian French Open Attracts
5 Canadians have been within the singles principal attracts because the second Grand Slam occasion of the season, though by Monday that quantity had dwindled to 4.
Learn additionally: WTA Energy Rankings Forward of Roland-Garros
Bianca Andreescu is making her return to the tour this week in Paris, having not performed for the reason that Nationwide Financial institution Open in August. She was victorious in her return, beating Sara Sorribes Tormo in straight units.
She is joined on the ladies’s facet by Leylah Annie Fernandez, who’s seeded thirty first. Fernandez acquired off to a profitable begin on Monday, racing previous Jessika Ponchet with the lack of simply two video games.
On the boys’s facet, Félix Auger-Aliassime was the primary Canadian to get a win on the 2024 French Open, cruising previous Yoshihito Nishioka in his opening match on Monday morning. Denis Shapovalov additionally performs his opener on Monday.
After coming via qualifying, Gabriel Diallo made his Grand Slam debut on Sunday towards former world No. 4 Kei Nishikori, however an exhilarating comeback got here up simply brief and he was ousted in 5 units.
Shapovalov and Fernandez are each enjoying doubles.
Click on right here to learn the total Canadian draw preview.
Below the Radar: Shaw and McIntyre Make It Three
It was a giant week for the Canadians on the ITF Wheelchair Tour, particularly within the quads as each Rob Shaw and Mitch McIntyre claimed their third doubles title of the season.
Shaw was enjoying his first occasion since profitable the most important title of his profession final month on the Japan Open. This week in Barcelona, he and associate Heath Davidson beat Ahmet Kaplan and Niels Vink to say the title.
Heading into Roland-Garros, the place he reached the ultimate final 12 months, Shaw has an opportunity to match his complete of 4 titles in a season from every of the earlier two years.
Additionally finishing his 2024 trifecta final week was Mitch McIntyre, who gained the quad doubles at an occasion in Padova, Italy. All three of McIntyre’s titles this 12 months have include completely different companions.
Final week, he and Finn Broadbent upset the second seeds 13-11 within the match tiebreak in spherical one and went on to win their remaining matches all in straight units, together with the ultimate the place they beat the highest seeds Shota Kawano and Kei Usami
Thomas Venos almost made it three titles for the Canadian wheelchair athletes, reaching the boys’s doubles remaining in Padova however he and Ezequiel Casco misplaced to prime seeds Robin Groenewoud and Maarten Ter Hofte.
Learn additionally: Venos Strikes Twice in April
There have been a couple of Canadian winners on the ITF Junior Tour final week. Jasmine Li gained the women singles title on the J30 in Tabasco, Mexico, whereas Lola Emilie Bean and Alexie Normandin squeaked out a doubles win on the J60 in Santa Tecla, El Salvador.
Victoria Mboko reached her first semifinal of 2024 final week on the ITF Ladies’s Tour, attending to the ultimate 4 of the W50 occasion in Otocec, Slovakia earlier than falling the eventual champion Anouk Koevermans.
This week on the ATP Challenger, a quartet of Canadian males led by Alexis Galarneau are competing at an occasion in Little Rock, Arkansas.
You may comply with the Canadians in motion each week right here.
