Canadian tennis player Carson Branstine achieved a significant victory on Wednesday, defeating fellow Canadian Bianca Andreescu 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-1 in the second round of Wimbledon qualifying. This success places Branstine just one win away from securing a spot in the prestigious Grand Slam tournament.
Branstine’s impressive performance follows her recent upset over top seed Lois Boisson, a French Open semifinalist, showcasing her strong form as she kicked off her grass season with her first WTA Tour main-draw victory in the Netherlands.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Victoria Mboko also shone in the qualifiers by overcoming Switzerland’s Valentina Ryser with a score of 6-3, 6-3. Mboko, who has had an outstanding year with a record of 44-6, displayed impressive power, firing seven aces and converting four out of 17 break points. She now prepares to face 30th seed Patricia Hon of Australia on Thursday for a chance to join the main draw.
Andreescu, a former U.S. Open champion, struggled during her match, particularly in her serving, as she won only 57 percent of her first-serve points and managed just three aces compared to Branstine’s six.
In related qualifying updates, Alexis Galarneau from Laval, Quebec, faced a loss in his second-round match against Britain’s Oliver Tarvet, highlighting the competitive nature of the qualifying rounds.
With both Branstine and Mboko thriving in Wimbledon qualifying, Canadian tennis appears to be on an upward trajectory, presenting a hopeful outlook for the nation’s representation in the upcoming Grand Slam events.