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The WTA regular season is over, the ATP season nearly over.
But there are plenty of opportunities to play this week – and the epicentre of Canadian tennis is the combined men’s and women’s Challenger in Calgary, Alberta.
It’s a great event. And while too many Canadians are taking a pass, still a pretty impressive field.
And not only did Liam Draxl win his first career Challenger, but Stacey Fung reached the women’s singles final, and Justin Boulais and Juan Carlos Aguilar won the doubles.
And Can-American Carson Branstine, done with college and out there trying to make it in the pros, took both the singles and doubles at a $15K in Monastir, Tunisia. Only her second tournament back after another long injury layoff.
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BJK Cup Finals
Sevilla, Spain
Leylah Fernandez
Rebecca Marino
Marina Stakusic
Gabriela Dabrowski
Eugenie Bouchard
Final
Canada 2, Italy 0 (Final)
#2 Marina Stakusic (CAN) def #2 Marina Stakusic (ITA) 75 63
#1 Leylah Fernandez (CAN) def. #1 Jasmine Paolini (ITA) 62 63
Semifinal
Canada 2, Czechia 1 (Final)
#2 Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) def #2 Marina Stakusic (CAN) 62 61
#1 Leylah Fernandez (CAN) def. #1 Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) 62 26 63
Gabriela Dabrowski / Leylah Fernandez (CAN) def. Barbora Krejcikova / Katerina SIniakova (CZE) 76 (5) 76 (3)
Canada 3, Spain 0 (Final)
#2 Marina Stakusic (CAN) def. #2 Rebeka Masarova (ESP) 63 61
#1 Leylah Fernandez (CAN) def. #1 Sara Sorribes Tormo (ESP) 76 (8) 76 (7)
Gaby Dabrowski / Leylah Fernandez (CAN) def Cristina Bucsa / Marina Bassols Ribeira Rebeka Masarova / Sara Sorribes Tormo (ESP) 62 75
Canada 3, Poland 0 (Final)
#2 Marina Stakusic (CAN) def #2 Magdalena Frech (POL) 46 75 63
#1 Leylah Fernandez (CAN) def #1 Magda Linette (POL) 62 63
Gaby Dabrowski / Eugenie Bouchard Leylah Fernandez (CAN) def Weronika Falkowska / Katarzyna Kawa (POL) 62 63
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Calgary National Bank Challenger
Calgary, Alberta (ATP Challenger $80K/ITF $60K)
Men’s singles
[WC] Liam Draxl
1st rd: def. [7] Kimmer Coppejans (BEL) 64 61
2nd rd: def Luke Saville (AUS) 61 62
QF: vs. [Q] Inaki Montes-De la Torre (ESP) 75 57 61
SF: def Andres Martin (USA) 76 (5) 57 64
F: def. [1] Dominik Koepfer (GER) 64 63
[4] Gabriel Diallo
1st rd: def. Andrew Paulson (CZE) 46 76 (8) 64
2nd rd: def. Joao Sousa (POR) 57 75 63
QF: def. [8] Aziz Dougaz (TUN) 63 62
SF: lost to [1] Dominik Koepfer (GER) WALKOVER
Steven Diez
1st rd: def. [Q] Juan Carlos Aguliar (CAN) 63 16 63
2nd rd: lost to [8] Aziz Dougaz (TUN) 63 62
[Q] Juan Carlos Aguilar
1st rd: lost to Steven Diez (CAN) 63 16 63
[WC] Dan Martin
1st rd: lost to [8] Aziz Dougaz (TUN) 62 75
[WC] Justin Boulais
1st rd: lost to [Q] Inaki Montes-De la Torre (ESP) 64 61
Women’s singles
[5] Stacey Fung
1st rd: def. [Q] Caroline Romeo (FRA) 64 61
2nd rd: vs. Sara Beth Grey (GBR) 62 75
QF: def. [3] Lulu Sun (SUI) 60 46 63
SF: def. Urszula Radwanska (POL) 61 63
F: lost to Sabine Lisicki (GER) 76 (2) 67 (5) 63
[1] Katherine Sebov
1st rd: def. [LL] Nagi Hanatani (JPN) 61 60
2nd rd: lost to Dalayna Hewitt (USA) 64 36 76 (3)
[WC] Alexia Jacobs
1st rd: def. [Q] Allura Zamarripa (USA) 75 63
2nd rd: lost to [8] Liv Hovde (USA) 62 46 76 (4)
[WC] Kayla Cross
1st rd: lost to Madison Sieg (USA) 36 64 64
Cadence Brace
1st rd: lost to Dalayna Hewitt (USA) 62 26 62
[WC] Martyna Ostzygalo
1st rd: lost to Eden Silva (GBR) 62 60
[WC] Layne Sleeth
1st rd: lost to [Q] Kira Pavlova (RUS) 64 64
[Q] Isabelle Boulais
1st rd: lost to Sara Beth Grey (GBR) 76 (1) 61
Men’s doubles
[WC] Juan Carlos Aguilar / Justin Boulais
1st rd: def. Hunter Reese (USA) / Benjamin Sigouin (CAN) 76 (5) 76 (4)
QF: def [2] George Goldhoff / Alfredo Perez (USA) 36 76 (3) [10-7]
SF: def. Gabriel Diallo (CAN) / Zizou Bergs (BEL) WALKOVER
F: def Charles Broom / Ben Jones (GBR) 63 62
Gabriel Diallo / Zizou Bergs (BEL)
1st rd: def [ALT] Viktor Durasovic (NOR) / David Jorda Sanchis (ESP) 61 62
QF: def. [4] Kelsey Stevenson (CAN) / Scott Duncan (GBR) 76 (4) 67 (9) [10-5]
SF: lost to [WC] Juan Carlos Aguilar / Justin Boulais (CAN) WALKOVER
[4] Kelsey Stevenson / Scott Duncan (GBR)
1st rd: def. Aziz Dougaz (TUN) / Benjamin Lock (ZIM) 62 63
QF: lost to Gabriel Diallo (CAN) / Zizou Bergs (BEL) 76 (4) 67 (9) [10-5]
Steven Diez / Joao Sousa (POR)
1st rd: def. Benoit Paire (FRA) / Artem Sitak (NZL) 64 76 (6)
QF: lost to Charles Broom / Ben Jones (GBR) 76 (4) 62
Benjamin Sigouin / Hunter Reese (USA)
1st rd: lost to [WC] Juan Carlos Aguilar / Justin Boulais (CAN) 76 (5) 76 (4)
[WC] Liam Draxl / Nicaise Muamba
1st rd: lost to Ruan Seggerman / Patrik Trhac (USA) 75 76 (6)
Women’s doubles
[4] Kayla Cross / Justina Mikulskyte (LTU)
1st rd: def Cadence Brace (CAN) / Sara Daavettila (USA) 60 62
QF: def Carmen Corley / Ivana Corley (USA) 63 26 [10-7]
SF: lost to Hannah Chang (USA) / Katarina Jokic (SRB) 46 64 [10-5]
Teah Chavez / Alexia Jacobs
1st rd: def. Scarlett Nicholson / Martyna Ostrzygalo (CAN) 46 64 [10-8]
QF: lost to [3] Sarah Beth Grey / Eden Silva (GBR) 64 26 [10-7]
Cadence Brace (CAN) / Sara Daavettila (USA)
1st rd: lost to [4] Kayla Cross (CAN) / Justina Mikulskyte (LTU) 60 62
Isabelle Boulais / Layne Sleeth
1st rd: lost to [3] Sarah Beth Grey / Eden Silva (GBR) 63 61
Louise Kwong / Anna Ulyashchenko (USA)
1st rd: lost to [2] Robin Anderson / Dalayna Hewitt (USA) 64 76 (10)
Scarlett Nicholson / Martyna Ostrzygalo (CAN)
1st rd: lost to Teah Chavez / Alexia Jacobs (CAN) 46 64 [10-8]
Women’s singles qualifying
[9/WC] Isabelle Boulais
1st rd: def. Hibah Shaikh (USA) 61 64
Final rd: def. [3] Sara Daavettil (USA) 76 (6) 75
[WC] Teah Chavez
1st rd: def. [12] Weronika Baszak (POL) 67 (4) 75 64
Final rd: lost to [1] Caroline Romeo (FRA) 62 75
[WC] Ellie Daniels
1st rd: def. [16] Mana Ayukawa (JPN) 63 61
Final rd: lost to [6] Allura Zamarripa (USA) 63 62
[14] Ana Grubor
1st rd: lost to Savanna Ly-Nguyen (VIE) 63 31 retd
Louise Kwong
1st rd: lost to [10] Chelsea Fontenel (SUI) 64 64
[WC] Scarlett Nicholson
1st rd: lost to [11] Amy Zhu (USA) 64 75
Men’s singles qualifying
[9] Juan Carlos Aguilar
1st rd: def. [ALT] Nicaise Muamba (CAN) 64 64
Final rd: def. [3] Giles Hussey (GBR) 64 61
[WC] Jonathan Sorbo
1st rd: def. [11] Osgar O’Hoisin (IRL) WALKOVER
Final rd: lost to [1] Inaki Montes-De La Torre (ESP) 61 61
[ALT] Nicaise Muamba
1st rd: lost to [9] Juan Carlos Aguilar (CAN) 64 64
[ALT] Kelsey Stevenson
1st rd: lost to [10] Patrick Brady (GBR) 62 61
[WC] Kaetan Mehta
1st rd: lost to [4] Alfredo Perez (USA) 61 63
[WC] Emmett Potter
1st rd: lost to [8] Kiranpal Pannu (NZL) 61 64
[ALT] Marko Stakusic
1st rd: lost to [12] Enzo Wallart (FRA) 61 retd
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LTP 100K
Charleston, SC (ITF $100K)
Singles qualifying
Dasha Plekhanova
1st rd: lost to [7] Jessica Failla (USA) 63 64
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Lima Challenger
Lima, Peru (ATP Challenger $80K)
Singles
Alejandro Tabilo (CHI)
1st rd: def Adolfo Daniel Vallejo (PAR) 64 61
2nd rd: def [WC] Conner Huertas del Pino (PER) 63 64
QF: def Roman Andres Burruchaga (ARG) 62 75
SF: lost to Luciano Darderi (ITA) 75 46 63
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Pro Tennis Open 2023
Austin, Texas (ITF $25K)
Singles
[Q] Cleeve Harper
1st rd: lost to [WC] Trevor Svajda (USA) 64 76 (5)
Doubles
Cleeve Harper / Eliot Spizzirri (USA)
1st rd: def. Adam Neff / Trevor Svajda (USA) 46 63 [10-6]
QF: def. [3] Colin Markes (USA) / Christian Sigsgaard (DEN) 62 64
SF: lost to [WC] Sebastian Gorzny / Brayden Michna (USA) 64 57 [10-7]
Singles qualifying
[1] Cleeve Harper
1st rd: Bye
Final rd: def. Tomas Jirousek (CZE) 63 62
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Magic Tour by FTT
Monastir, Tunisia (ITF $25K)
Singles qualifying
Stefan Frljanic
1st rd: lost to [WC] Leonardo Iemmi (ITA) 16 64 [11-9]
Rowan Blackbeard
1st rd: lost to [7] Alexey Nesterov (RUS) 61 60
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M25 Heraklion
Heraklion, Greece (ITF $25K)
Singles qualifying
Thomas Sorensen
1st rd: lost to [9] Lior Goldenberg (ISR) 62 63
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W25 Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, DR (ITF $25K)
Singles qualifying
[16] Summer Curtis
1st rd: def. Alahya De Jesus (DOM) 61 60
Final rd: lost to [6] Gina Kondos (USA) 64 36 [10-8]
Arisha Ladhani
1st rd: lost to [12/WC] Neil Miler (GBR) 61 61
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XYZ Printing ITF WTT 2023
Hua Hin, Thailand (ITF $15K)
Singles
[2] Filip Peliwo (POL)
1st rd: def [JE] Seungmin Park (KOR) 64 46 63
2nd rd: def. [WC] Krittin Koaykul (THA) 61 62
QF: def. Zheng Tianhui (CHN) 43 retd
SF: lost to Andre Ilagan (USA) 64 64
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Magic Tours by FTT
Monastir, Tunisia (ITF $15K)
Singles
[Q] Carson Branstine
1st rd: def Selina Dal (GER) 62 61
2nd rd: def. [5] Michika Ozeki (JPN) 62 62
QF: def. [4] Emily Welker (GER) 64 61
SF: def Eliessa Vanlangendonck (BEL) 63 62
F: def. Ranah Akua Stoiber (GBR) 75 46 63
Doubles
Carson Branstine / Selina Dal (GER)
1st rd: def. Polina Kaibekova / Milana Zhabrailova (RUS) 75 76 (4)
QF: def. [4] Michika Ozeki (JPN) / Zhanel Rustemova (KAZ) 63 61
SF: def. Liel Marlies Rothensteiner (AUT) / Marie Vogt (GER) 64 62
F: def [2] Emily Welker (GER) / Eliessa Vanlangendonck (BEL) 36 75 [10-8]
Singles qualifying
Carson Branstine
1st rd: def [11] Lena Thomas Iglesias (FRA) 61 60
Final rd: def. [3] Marie Vogt (GER) 61 62
Keira Blackbeard
1st rd: lost to [7] Carlotta Moccia (ITA) 60 64
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Fighting Illini Open
Champaign, ILL (ITF $15K)
Singles
[Q] Jada Bui
1st rd: lost to [3] Carolina Gomez (ESP) 75 64
Doubles
Jada Bui / Mya Bui
1st rd: lost to [4] Gina Marie Dittman (GER) / Kristina Paskauskas (GBR) 62 40 retd
Singles qualifying
[7] Jada Bui
1st rd: Bye
Final rd: def. [9] Annette Robertson (USA) 60 61
Mya Bui
1st rd: lost to Michaela Eddins (USA) 60 60
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M15 Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, DR (ITF $15K)
Singles qualifying
Masood Eisa-Beygi
1st rd: lost to Angel Josue Maleno Rosario (DOM) 62 76 (4)
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M15 Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC (ITF $15K)
Singles qualifying
Tymofiy Khrystyuk
1st rd: lost to [3] Damien Salvestre (FRA) 63 64
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About Post Author
Stephanie, was there any injury or something to Rebecca? I was surprised she didn’t start, but it sounds like Marina S. has had a wonderful fall, results-wise, and she did VERY well.
So exciting to be the Champions!
Nope. She was 100% and ready to go.
They ghosted her. Brutal.
No, it was not that. Team Canada had a situation with Rebecca Marino being in a relative slump this year, unfortunately. Her last tournament title, a W60, dates from March 2022. More importantly, she has negative h2hs with Frech (Poland), Masarova (Spain) and Bronzetti (Italy), which were potential opponents in BJK Cup. Marina Stakusic was a gamble at this level, of course, but she was on the upswing, as she has had two W60s and a W25 titles since September. And when you beat Brengle and Fett, it’s something special. Also, she moves better than Marino at this stage. In the Cup, she beat Frech, Masarova and Trevisan, which was of course great. Too bad Eugenie Bouchard, also with great merits like Marino in Team Canada history, has not had titles in a long while. Thus, Team Canada had to gamble, did a logical substitution and discovered a potential gem who, at least in this instance, performed admirably. Of course, this is no big surprise for me and Costello, see our comments of July 27, 2022 (in https://opencourt.ca/2022/07/27/marino-zhao-and-sebov-but-not-bouchard-get-toronto-wild-cards/) about both Marina and Kayla, where we were more on the ball, based on this year, than someone who penned something under your name. Great result for Team Canada and generally a great service you provide with this site, though.
I had a long response, rebutting your supposed points.
But then I figured, why waste the bandwidth.
So, in short: you’re an ass.
Wow! We just finished watching the doubles match! I can’t believe that Gaby and Leylah pulled it off. Way to go, girls!!