Monday Digest: Branstine Breakthrough in Cancun

2025 continues to be a big year for Canadians across all levels of professional tennis with Carson Branstine adding the latest chapter to the story at a WTA 125 event in Cancun. 

Her finals run was one of two for Canadians down in Mexico last week and with the result, she is on the brink of joining four of her fellow Canadians in the Top 200 of the WTA Rankings. 

Here’s what you need to know. 

Under the Radar: Biggest Final for Branstine 

Over the past few years, Carson Branstine, the former two-time junior Grand Slam doubles champion and 2024 NCAA National Team Champion with Texas A&M, has been putting up some solid results on the ITF Tour. But last week, the 24-year-old took a big leap, reaching her first WTA 125 final at the Cancun Open. 

Branstine needed to win a qualifying match to get into the main draw, where she opened her campaign against sixth seed Ena Shibahara. The Canadian squeaked out the win in a third-set tiebreak and then won her next three matches in a row in straight sets, including a semifinal win over third seed Maya Joint, to reach the biggest final of her career to date.  

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She was beaten in the final by Emiliana Arango. As a result of the finals run, Branstine jumped 65 spots in the WTA rankings and is now on the brink of entering the Top 200 for the first time at No. 207, her career-high. 

Meanwhile, to the west in Huamantla, Mexico, the Canadians impressed at an ITF M15 event with four Canucks reaching the quarter-finals. Dan Martin and Nicolas Arseneault, who took out the top seed in the second round, went out in the last eight while Niels van Noord, who beat Arseneault in the quarters, reached the semifinals. 

Alvin Tudorica, who took down Noord in the semis, went all the way, claiming the title in Huamantla with a three-set win over second seed Aidan McHugh. It is his first title of the year and third ITF singles title overall.  

In Case You Missed It: Top 10 win for Fernandez 

After a busy and highly successful stretch for the Canadians on the main tours, last week was a quieter one. 

Leylah Annie Fernandez did deliver a strong performance at the first WTA 1000 event of the season in Doha, reaching the third round where she lost to the eventual champion Amanda Anisimova. In the second round, she scored her first Top 10 win of the second against No. 9 Emma Navarro in straight sets, the second year in a round she beat a Top 10 player in Doha. 

Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe were the top seeds in Qatar but lost their opening match to eventual semifinalists Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider. Fernandez lost in the first round of doubles with Nadiia Kichenok. 

After back-to-back weeks with titles on the ATP Tour, the Canadian men let their streak go as none of them competed in main tour events last week. 

Click here for more news and results from the ATP and WTA Tours.

What to Watch: Dabrowski Looks to Bounce Back in Dubai 

Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe will look to bounce back at the second WTA 1000 events in the Middle East. They are the second seeds in the Dubai doubles draw and, after a first-round bye, will open their campaign against Linda Noskova and Yulia Putintseva. 

Leylah Annie Fernandez was unable to replicate her good form, falling in the first round of Dubai to Elise Mertens in straight sets. She and Nadiia Kichenok also lost in the first round of the doubles. 

In singles action this week, Félix Auger-Aliassime is the player to watch as he is competing at the ATP 500 in Doha, his first tournament since pulling out of Rotterdam with an injury. 

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He defeated Quentin Halys in three sets in his first-round match on Tuesday and will play either Hamad Medjedovic or sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round. His projected quarter-finals opponent is No. 4 seed Daniil Medvedev and the Canadian is in the bottom half of the draw with second seed Alex de Minaur. Carlos Alcaraz is the top seed. 

You can follow the Canadians in action every week here.