GRANBY, July 27, 2017

Top seed Blaz Kavcic as well as local favourite Denis Shapovalov headlined Wednesday’s action at the $100,000 Challenger Banque Nationale de Granby, moving on to the second round.

Kavcic fought past Sekou Bangoura from the United States 6-4, 5-7, 6-3. The World No. 100 from Slovenia sent down six aces, winning 79 per cent of his first service points to prevail after two hours and 40 minutes. Kavcic will next take on British qualifier Liam Broady.

18-yeard old Denis Shapovalov was playing in the first of two featured evening matches against Australian qualifier Marinko Matosevic. The young Canadian had to serve his way out of trouble early in the first. He took the first set after his opponent double faulted fort he third time in the set. Shapovalov got an early break in the second and never looked back. He aced his way into the second round, firing four consecutives aces to take the match 7-5, 6-3 after one hour and 17 minutes. The teenager will next face Yuki Bhambri of India.

Playing in the first match of the day on Centre Court, Steven Diez of Canada was in action against Japanese qualifier Kaichi Uchida. Despite losing the first set, the 26-year-old Toronto native stormed back in the second and third sets to take the match in a little over two hours, winning 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. In the decider, he did not face a single break point.

Canadian wild card Benjamin Sigouin from Vancouver was also in singles action, facing a tough opponent in the tournament’s seventh seed Tatsuma Ito of Japan. Serving effectively throughout the match, Sigouin was unable to capitalize on his break point opportunities, converting only twice in seven attempts. After just under two hours of play, the Canadian fell 7-6, 7-6. Ito moves on to play his second round match against Diez.