US Open Preview: Six Canadians competing at ultimate Grand Slam of the yr
The fourth and ultimate Grand Slam match on the tennis calendar has arrived, ushering in two weeks of drama, pleasure and top-tier competitors at Flushing Meadows.
This yr, Canada is represented in New York by six gamers — three males and three ladies. Though matches formally kick off on Monday, the Canadians start singles play on Tuesday and doubles on Wednesday.
Right here’s a more in-depth take a look at the six Canadian contenders at this yr’s US Open.
Gabriel Diallo
Rating: 143
2024 W-L document: 2-4
The 22-year-old Diallo secured his first-ever spot within the US Open essential draw by profitable his three qualifying matches this previous week. He took down Japan’s Sho Shimabukuro and France’s Titouan Drouguet in three units on Monday and Wednesday, respectively, earlier than formally reserving his essential draw ticket with a straight-sets win over one other Frenchman, Valentin Royer, on Thursday.
The qualification is unquestionably a profession milestone for Diallo, who turned professional in 2023 and has appeared in the primary draw of a Grand Slam solely as soon as earlier than. The six-foot-eight Montrealer additionally certified for the French Open earlier this yr, which resulted in a first-round exit for him at Roland-Garros.
Merely attending to compete in one other Grand Slam is already a win for Diallo, contemplating the expertise he’ll acquire. That being mentioned, there’s little question he’s setting a purpose to advance additional this time round. A primary-round match in opposition to Spain’s Jaume Manur will decide whether or not that occurs or not.
Leylah Fernandez
Rating: 26
2024 W-L document: 22-18
Fernandez will likely be competing in each singles and doubles on the Open this yr.
She begins her singles match in opposition to Anastasia Potapova, whom Fernandez has defeated in all 4 of their earlier conferences, together with two first-round matches earlier this yr. Fernandez, a Montreal native, reached the US Open ultimate in 2021 however has since struggled to copy that success, falling within the second and first rounds within the subsequent two years.
The 21-year-old has three profession titles so far however has but to win one in 2024 and none of her titles are Grand Slams.
On the doubles facet, Fernandez is pairing up with Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva. Apparently, the duo is about to fulfill with fellow Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski and her associate Erin Routliffe within the first spherical. Fernandez and Putintseva are more likely to be driving momentum after coming off a powerful efficiency on the Cincinnati Open, the place they superior to the ultimate and completed as runners-up.
Denis Shapovalov
Rating: 105
2024 W-L document: 15-19
Though Shapovalov may not be having the strongest yr — he’s the one different Canadian on this listing with a shedding document, other than the inexperienced Diallo — the 25-year-old has traditionally executed very properly on the US Open. Regardless of his rating exterior of the highest 100, he was nonetheless capable of straight enter competitors this yr utilizing his entry safety.
He was unable to play in 2023 due to his knee damage, however since debuting on the main in 2017, Shapovalov has superior to no less than the third spherical in all six of his appearances. His finest efficiency got here in 2020, when he made it to the quarterfinals. He’ll be trying to preserve his spectacular US Open document when he takes on Botic Van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands within the first spherical. They met within the first spherical at Indian Wells earlier this yr, a match Shapovalov received in straight units.
Shapovalov, who grew up in Vaughan, Ont., has not performed a match for the reason that Nationwide Financial institution Open in the beginning of August, the place he exited within the first spherical with a straight-sets loss. His fellow Canadians every performed no less than one match between the NBO and the US Open.
He can even compete within the males’s doubles match, partnering with South Korea’s Soonwoo Kwon. This marks their first time teaming up and Shapovalov’s first look within the US Open doubles draw since 2020.
Bianca Andreescu
Rating: 167
2024 W-L document: 8-6
The 24-year-old is the one Canadian to have received a Grand Slam singles title — and he or she did it proper right here on the US Open in opposition to the legendary Serena Williams.
Andreescu, from Mississauga, Ont., pulled off the feat as a 19-year-old in 2019. Speaking in regards to the win in a bit printed to The Gamers’ Tribune on Wednesday, Andreescu wrote, “It’s laborious for me to place into perspective even now. I bear in mind I went on Jimmy Fallon after, and folks had been actually following me, taking photos. I felt like a star. And, in a means, I used to be — I’d simply received the US Open. However it didn’t really feel actual. None of it did.” Her two different profession titles had been received earlier that very same yr at Indian Wells and the Nationwide Financial institution Open.
She enters play this yr as a wild-card recipient, marking her third look since her win. She withdrew final yr attributable to damage and in 2020 due to journey considerations associated to the COVID-19 pandemic. Much like Shapovalov, Andreescu has by no means misplaced earlier than the third spherical of the US Open (within the years she entered the primary draw).
Andreescu’s first-round opponent is Jasmine Paolini, whom she will likely be dealing with for the third Grand Slam in a row. Paolini, the world No. 5, defeated Andreescu within the third spherical of each the French Open and Wimbledon earlier this yr. They would be the first gamers to fulfill in ladies’s singles at these three majors in a single season since Serena Williams and Justine Henin in 2007.
Felix Auger-Aliassime
Rating: 19
2024 W-L document: 27-20
Certainly trying to redeem his 2023 US Open efficiency, the place he was bounced within the first spherical, Auger-Aliassime opens this yr’s match with a match in opposition to Czech Jakub Mensik. The pair have met simply as soon as earlier than, within the second spherical of the Madrid Open this yr, with Auger-Aliassime profitable after Mensik retired. He ultimately reached the ultimate of that match, turning into the primary Canadian to make it to an ATP Masters 1000 ultimate on clay.
The 24-year-old Auger-Aliassime, the highest-ranked Canadian in singles, had his finest Grand Slam efficiency at Flushing Meadows in 2021, when he reached the semifinals. He has 5 profession titles however the Montreal native has but to drag off a victory in 2024.
Auger-Aliassime enters the key on the heels of controversy. His third-round loss on the Cincinnati Open earlier this month obtained vital consideration within the tennis world due to a missed name on a match level by the umpire that might not be reviewed. Fortuitously for Auger-Aliassime and others, the US Open is much less more likely to face such controversies, as the key has video overview carried out on eight of its courts.
Gabriela Dabrowski
Rating: 3
2024 W-L document: 25-10
The defending doubles champion will attempt to run it again.
Dabrowski, a local of Ottawa, and her associate Erin Routliffe of New Zealand received the 2023 US Open ladies’s doubles title. As talked about above, they’re set to face fellow Canadian Fernandez and her associate Putintseva of their first match.
Routliffe and Dabrowski have constructed vital momentum main as much as the key, having reached the finals in 5 of their final six tournaments. Throughout that run, they received one title, on the Nottingham Open.
The 32-year-old Dabrowski is at her career-best rating and is the highest-ranked Canadian general in tennis. She has 16 profession titles, together with three Grand Slams, with the opposite two coming in blended doubles.
It’s protected to say Dabrowski has one of the best shot amongst Canadians at success at this version of the US Open.
