VANCOUVER/STARNBERG, July 31, 2026
The magical run at the Odlum Brown VanOpen continues for Keegan Rice.
Backed by a raucous crowd at Hollyburn Country Club on Thursday, the 20-year-old Canadian wild card engineered a gritty third-set comeback to defeat US-American Daniel Milavsky and advance to his first ATP Challenger semifinal.
In a gruelling quarterfinal defined by razor-thin margins, Rice edged Milavsky 1-6, 6-1, 7-6(4). “I’m super excited to be into the semifinals,” Rice said after receiving a standing ovation from the packed Centre Court. “It was a great match, a great atmosphere, and a real three-set tiebreak battle.”
Trailing by a break in the deciding set, the Regina, Saskatchewan native leaned on the local support to dig himself out of trouble. Rice was clinical when it mattered most, converting four of his five break-point opportunities while saving half of the break points he faced on serve.
The dream week continues for Keegan Rice 💫
The 20-year-old advances to his first career ATP Challenger semifinal after beating Milavsky 1-6, 6-1, 7-6(4) in Vancouver#ATPChallenger | @vanopentennis pic.twitter.com/8BFeVtg60j
— ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) July 30, 2026
“I just kept competing no matter what,” Rice explained. “When I was down a break, I knew I would have my chances, and if I give myself a chance on every single point, anything can happen.”
The University of Virginia standout, who entered the tournament looking to build on a summer that included a run to his first ITF World Tennis Tour singles final in Laval, Quebec, credited the Vancouver crowd for helping him across the finish line.
“Just getting so much energy from the crowd—whether it’s for me or whoever I’m playing against—really refocuses my mind on the competition,” Rice said. “I’m really excited to test my level in the semis and hopefully move on after tomorrow.”
Now, the former Top 40 ITF junior looks ahead to Friday’s semifinal, eager to keep his momentum rolling on home soil.
“I feel good. I’m ready to do the same thing again. I’ll just focus point by point and compete as hard as I can.”
Elsewhere, Japanese qualifier Jay Friend knocked out top seed Benjamin Bonzi in a marathon lasting two hours and 47 minutes. After dropping the opening set, Friend survived a tense second-set tiebreak before completing a 5-7, 7-6(7), 7-5 comeback victory.
Eighth seed Mark Lajal of Estonia took a more straightforward route to the semifinals, needing just over an hour to defeat US-American qualifier Braden Shick 6-2, 6-2.
Rounding out quarterfinal action, US-American J.J. Wolf staged an impressive comeback to earn his place in the last four, rallying past lucky loser Hayato Matsuoka 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 in a hard-fought contest lasting two hours and 20 minutes.
