Because the tennis season winds down, the Canadian Fall swing has one ultimate cease in La Belle Province. This week, the calendar shifts to the ninth version of the Challenger Banque Nationale Drummondville, that includes a 32-player singles draw and a 16-team doubles draw.
Recent off his M25 Saint-Augustin title, Liam Draxl is one among a number of Canadians poised to make a deep run. Laval-native Alexis Galarneau, too, ought to obtain sturdy assist from the Quebecois crowd.
Duckworth is prime seed, Draxl amongst six Canadians in Essential Draw
Veteran James Duckworth returns to Drummondville for the second consecutive yr, coming into because the event’s prime seed. At present No. 77 on the ATP circuit, the 32-year-old completed runner-up final yr in Drummondville, falling within the ultimate to Belgium’s Zizou Bergs. Duckworth has had a robust season, capturing the Hangzhou Challenger title final month and reaching the quarter-finals in Stuttgart earlier this summer season on grass.
Learn extra: Dabrowski makes extra historical past with WTA Finals victory
Newmarket-native Draxl is about to compete in his opening-round match in opposition to Germany’s Michael Geerts. The 22-year-old has been on a formidable run recently, successful 13 of his final 14 matches since mid-October, whereas amassing singles titles in Edmonton and Saint-Augustin.
Alexis Galarneau, the highest-ranked Canadian within the singles draw at No. 216, will open his Drummondville marketing campaign in opposition to Britain’s Alastair Grey. The 25-year-old just lately completed as runner-up in Saint-Augustin, dropping to Draxl within the ultimate, 6-1, 6-3. Following Drummondville, Galarneau will head to Spain to characterize Canada on the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga.
Elsewhere within the draw, 20-year-old Jaden Weekes, who reached the semifinals final week earlier than falling to Draxl, will look to construct on his type. He’ll face No. 4 seed James Kent Trotter of Japan in his first match. Juan Carlos Aguilar faces Brazil’s Karue Promote in his opening spherical.
Veteran Vasek Pospisil already suffered a troublesome first-round loss to No. 5 seed Facundo Mena, whereas 17-year-old Nicholas Arseneault misplaced in his first-round match on Monday to Denmark’s Joel Schwaerzler.
4 All-Canadian Groups in Doubles
Regardless of his early singles exit, Arseneault will group up together with his brother Mikael in doubles, with the duo receiving a wildcard into the event. Draxl, seeded third in doubles, will accomplice with countryman Cleeve Harper. The 2 have received three titles collectively this season, together with the Sioux Falls Challenger final month.
Learn: Canada’s Billie Jean king Cup and Davis Cup Groups Every Eyeing Second Title
Justin Boulais will pair with Aguilar for the fourth time this season. They reached the quarter-finals final week in Saint-Augustin. Moreover, Benjamin Thomas George and Alvin Nicholas Tudorica are set to compete, coming off a runner-up end on the M25 Edmonton.
.aspx?w=360&resize=360,180&ssl=1 "Iga’s Grass Secret Weapon: Instinct")
