Canadian tennis stars Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov continued to shine as they secured their places in the semifinals of their respective ATP 250 tournaments on Friday.
Felix Auger-Aliassime, hailing from Montreal, triumphed at the European Open with a decisive 6-2, 7-6 (6) victory over American qualifier Eliot Spizzirri. The 25-year-old Canadian showcased his skills, dominating the first set by breaking Spizzirri’s serve twice and not facing a single break point. The second set proved to be more challenging, as Spizzirri had two set points in the twelfth game. However, Auger-Aliassime held his composure, clinching the tiebreaker with his impressive 11th ace of the match and winning the critical points to advance.
Auger-Aliassime, currently ranked 13th in the world, will face Belgian wild card Raphael Collignon in the semifinals as he strives for another tournament title.
Meanwhile, Denis Shapovalov, from Richmond Hill, Ontario, moved forward in the Stockholm Open after a hard-fought quarterfinal match against Swedish wild card Elias Ymer, winning 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-1. Ranked third in the tournament, Shapovalov showcased his resilience, pulling away by winning the last five matches of the third set. His next challenge will come against second seed Casper Ruud of Norway, a player he previously defeated in the finals of the Dallas Open earlier this year.
In Osaka, Leylah Fernandez from Laval, Quebec, also made waves at the Japan Women’s Open, defeating Romania’s Sorana Cirstea 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 in her semifinal match. Fernandez’s performance included one ace, 33 winners, and a commendable service game, as she won six of her twelve return games throughout the match.
Both Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov continue to display the exceptional talent that Canadian tennis has to offer, while Fernandez’s progress adds further excitement and promise for the country’s representation in the sport. The upcoming matches hold the potential for more thrilling moments as they aspire for victory on the world stage.