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is that this the yr a Canadian man breaks by way of to win the Canadian Open males’s tennis championship?

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It has by no means been achieved within the open period. You must return to 1958 when Quebecer Bob Bédard defeated Whitney Reed of the U.S. to win the world’s second-oldest tennis event for the third time.

Canada’s greatest hope for a homegrown winner at this yr’s Nationwide Financial institution Open rests with Montrealer Félix Auger-Aliassime, who would be the sixth seed, shifting up following the withdrawals of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. He has been essentially the most constant Canadian on tour this yr, successful his first ATP title at Rotterdam in February and solidifying his place within the prime 10.

However Auger-Aliassime, who will rejoice his twenty second birthday Sunday, has by no means performed properly in Canada’s showcase occasion. His greatest exhibiting in 4 appearances was right here in 2019 when he beat fellow Canadians Vasek Pospisil and Milos Raonic earlier than shedding to Russian Karen Khachanov within the spherical of 16.

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Auger-Aliassime has a bye within the first spherical and doubtless gained’t make his first look on centre courtroom till Wednesday. That may give him time to readjust his inner clock after taking part in this week in Los Cabos on Mexico’s West Coast. He misplaced a three-set semifinal to Britain’s  Cameron Norrie late Friday night time.

The attract Montreal went properly for Auger-Aliassime. If type holds up, he’ll once more meet Norrie within the third spherical, and he had a 4-0 lifetime edge over Norrie till the loss Friday. He’s projected to fulfill fourth-seeded Casper Ruud of Norway within the quarter-finals. Auger-Aliassime and Ruud have break up their two earlier conferences.

The draw was not form to the opposite three Canadians within the 56-man most important draw.

Denis Shapovalov has the expertise to contend for the title, however his sport has been a sizzling mess since he reached the semifinals at Rome in Could. His first-round loss to American J.J Wolf in Washington this week left him with one win in his final eight matches and he has dropped to No. 22 within the rankings. He faces a tricky take a look at within the first spherical when he meets Alex De Minaur. The Australian is ranked simply forward of Shapovalov at No. 21 and has a 2-0 profession edge over the Canadian.

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Alexis Galarneau of Laval was drawn towards Sixteenth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, whereas fellow wild-card Vasek Pospisil will face Tommy Paul of the U.S. The winner of that match will play second-seeded Carlos Alcaraz, the 19-year-old Spanish phenom who obtained a heat welcome when he was launched on the draw.

Nadal, who gained the primary of his 5 Canadian Open titles when he was 19, withdrew earlier Friday due to an stomach damage, which compelled him to default his Wimbledon semifinal towards Nick Kyrgios.

“(Nadal) will likely be missed however he’s gained sufficient titles,” third-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas mentioned with a smile. “This provides an opportunity to another person.”

Kyrgios, who entered the primary draw as a result of the vaccine-averse Djokovic is barred from getting into Canada, has a winnable first-round match towards Argentine Sebastian Baez, however the winner faces top-seeded Daniil Medvedev.

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Qualifying matches start Saturday at 10 a.m. and proceed on Sunday. The IGA Household Weekend affords followers free admission to the grounds on a first-come foundation. Along with the tennis, there will likely be a ball hockey sport at 4 p.m. Saturday, pitting tennis gamers towards an NHL lineup that can embrace the Canadiens’ Jonathan Drouin and Nick Suzuki. Jonathan Huberdeau, who simply signed a wealthy contract extension after being traded to the Calgary Flames, may also play.

phickey@postmedia.com

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