SHERBROOKE, February 22, 2017
The players list for the Subaru Sherbrooke Futures presented by Énergie 106.1, was unveiled on Wednesday. Sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the tournament, which offers $25,000 U.S. in total prize money, will be held from March 4-12, 2017 at the Christian Bourque indoor tennis courts of the Rock Forest Recreation Centre in Sherbrooke.
“This year’s main draw has a strong Canadian presence with the participation of three players in the main draw and four others expected to receive Wild Cards. The increase in Canadian players on the professional circuit is an encouraging sign for the future of our sport,” said Tournament Director Richard Quirion. “Local tournaments, such as the Subaru Sherbrooke Futures presented by Énergie 106.1, are an opportunity to watch both our younger and more experienced players compete in professional tournaments right here at home.”
This year, three Canadians, Denis Shapovalov (Richmond Hill, ON), Philip Bester (Vancouver, BC) and Brayden Schnur (Pickering, ON), have earned direct entry into the main draw. Seventeen-year-old rising star Denis Shapovalov, currently ranked no. 256 in the world, is slated to be the third seed. He made a name for himself in 2016, a year in which he was the junior Roland-Garros semifinalist, captured the junior Wimbledon title in July, and won three Futures tournaments. After falling in the first round of last year’s tournament, Shapovalov will be looking to continue his ascent on the professional tour. He will be coming to Sherbrooke from Gatineau, where he is the second seed in that Futures tournament. Joining him from Gatineau will be world no. 336 Philip Bester, who is looking to continue last year’s successful run on the Canadian circuit. His 2016 season was highlighted by a doubles title at the Richmond Futures in June and both the singles and doubles titles at the Houghton Boston Tennis Classic in Saskatoon. Bester was not the only Canadian player to have success on the local circuit in 2016, Brayden Schnur also finished the year on a high note. He was a finalist at the Bruno Agostelli Futures in Niagara, won the doubles title at that same tournament, and also won the singles title at the Calgary Futures.
Four Canadians are slated to receive wildcards for the tournament, one of which has been given to fast rising 16-year-old Félix Auger-Aliassime (Montreal, QC). In the past year, Auger-Aliassime, who is currently ranked no. 3 on the world junior rankings, has already proven that he is able to compete with the pros. The reigning junior U.S. Open champion reached the semifinals of last year’s tournament in Sherbrooke, losing to the eventual runner-up.
Nine countries will be represented during the 2017 edition of the tournament, with world no. 214 Yannik Reuter of Belgium leading the way. After losing in the quarter-finals in 2016, Edward Corrie of Great Britain, who was also crowned champion in Sherbrooke in 2015, will be the second seed in this year’s event. Joining Corrie in the main draw is his compatriot and last year’s runner-up, Lloyd Glasspool.
The Subaru Sherbrooke Futures presented by Énergie 106.1 is the second in a series of three tournaments that will be played in Quebec during the months of February and March. The event will be followed by the Drummondville National Bank Challenger.
