GATINEAU, August 15, 2016
Two Canadians took home the singles titles on Sunday at the third edition of the $100,000 Gatineau National Bank Challenger.
After being postponed on Saturday due to rain, both men’s semifinals were contested on Sunday morning with Peter Polansky (Thornhill, ON) and France’s Vincent Millot, who defeated Denis Shapovalov (Richmond Hill, ON) 6-2, 6-4, advancing to the final.
While Polansky and Millot were getting ready for the championship match, 16-year-old Bianca Vanessa Andreescu (Toronto, ON), last year’s Gatineau finalist, went one better by defeatingUS- American Ellie Halbauer 6-2, 7-5 to capture her first professional title at the $25,000 ITF event.
Andreescu completed a Gatineau sweep by also taking home the doubles crown with her compatriot Charlotte Robillard-Millette (Blainville, QC). The Canadian pair got the better of Mana Ayukawa of Japan and Brit Samantha Murray 4-6, 6-4, 10-7 in the final.
The tournament concluded with the men’s final. The first set featured many long rallies with Millot jumping out to a 6-3 lead. In the second frame, Polansky saved eight break points and leveled the match by winning the 6-4. Millot retired at the start of the third set feeling emotionally unable to continue after learning of a death in the family the night before.
The win is Polansky’s first ATP Challenger title since 2013 and he is the first Canadian to claim a Challenger trophy since Frank Dancevic was crowned champion in Kosice, Slovakia in 2014.
“In my opinion, I won this match because of the effort I put in to come from behind and get back on even terms,” said Polansky after the match. “I fought really well and we played two high quality sets. I am sad for Millot, but I understand his decision and I respect it.”
For the first time in tournament history, two Canadians have won the singles titles in Gatineau. Polansky and his doubles partner Philip Bester will now head to New York to compete in U.S. Open qualifying beginning next week while Andreescu will enjoy a few days of rest.
