GRANBY, July 27, 2018 (Press Release)
It was a great day for Canadian tennis on Thursday at the Granby National Bank Challenger as seven players were in second round action. The tournament features a mixed draw, with the men competing in the $100,000 ATP Challenger event and the women competing in the $60,000 ITF Challenger event. The tournament will be held from July 21 to 29 at the Club de tennis des loisirs de Granby.
Due to weather warnings in the Granby area, the ITF women’s matches were moved indoors to the Centre Récréatif Rock Forest in Sherbrooke. In an all-Canadian match-up featuring two of the country’s up and coming stars, Bianca Andreescu from Mississauga and Leylah Annie Fernandez of Laval found themselves battling for a quarter-final spot. Although she put up a valiant effort, the 15-year-old Fernandez was unable to keep pace with her more experience compatriot. Andreescu avenged her second round loss from last year with a 6-1, 6-4 victory.
Katherine Sebov from Toronto was hoping to join her fellow Canadian in the main draw, as she opposed Olivia Tjandramulia of Australia. The tournament’s eighth seed Sebov dominated her opponent from start to finish, winning her second round match by a score of 6-1, 6-2. She is looking to go one step further than she did last year, as she finished the finalist.
Rebecca Marino from Vancouver had booked her quarterfinal spot on Wednesday, defeating the tournament’s seventh seed Maria Sanchez 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.
Polansky advances
On the men’s side, all of the matches were played outdoors. Peter Polansky from Thornhill kicked things off, disposing of Zhe Li from China in just over an hour, securing his spot in the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-3 win. The Canadian has a lot of points to defend this week, as he made the finals last year. Davis Cup Captain Frank Dancevic from Niagara Falls followed his compatriot’s lead, quickly taking care of Austria’s Lucas Miedler by a score of 6-4, 6-4.
Also in action was Filip Peliwo from Vancouver as he had the tough task of facing a heavy hitting US-American in Alexander Sarkissian. After a double fault costed him the first set, the Canadian found himself trailing in the second, but with the support of the crowd was ready for a comeback. Despite saving a number of match points, it was not to be for Peliwo who fell 6-4, 6-3.
A total of six Canadian players will be in action on Friday.
Top seed Herbert falls
There was a major upset on Thursday, as Frenchman Ugo Humbert eliminated the top seed and compatriot Pierre-Hughes Herbert in straight sets 6-4, 6-4. Despite his opponent’s higher ranking and notable titles, the 20-year-old did not seem intimidated and continued on his hot streak which saw him reach the final at the Gatineau Challenger last week.
The Granby National Bank Challenger is the second of two mixed draw tournaments held in Quebec during the month of July. The tournament was proceeded by the Gatineau National Bank Challenger.
