Monday Digest: Dabrowski Comes Close at Miami Open

Gabriela Dabrowski continues to be a dependable presence within the Canadian tennis panorama, highlighted by one more spectacular run final week on the Miami Open. However the Canadian will heading to the clay hungry for extra after a close to miss on the 1000-level occasion. 

She and Erin Routliffe have been a power on the laborious courts since final summer season, however now they must deliver their A-game to a brand new floor because the dust takes over. 

Right here’s what you might want to know. 

In Case You Missed It: Dabrowski Edged at Miami Open 

Canadian curiosity in week two of the Miami Open was targeted fully on Gabriela Dabrowski and the ladies’s doubles, the place she and Erin Routliffe reached their second WTA 1000 ultimate.  

Whereas they do have a much bigger title to their title, victory on the 1000 stage continues to elude the Canadian-Kiwi duo as they misplaced a heartbreaker within the Miami ultimate to Sofia Kenin and Bethanie Mattek-Sands. 

After rallying from a set down within the semis to beat Asia Muhammad and Alycia Parks, Dabrowski and Routliffe stood two factors away from the title in each the second set tiebreak and the match tiebreak, however finally needed to accept runner-up trophies. 

All Canadian singles gamers had been eradicated within the first week of Miami.  

What to Watch: Clay has Come 

Clay takes over the excursions this week with 500 and 250 stage occasions throughout 4 continents.  

Whereas many of the massive occasions in the course of the clay season happen in Europe, the Canadian focus stays on a trio of occasions within the Americas to begin. 

Leylah Annie Fernandez has her eyes on the largest prize of the week, competing on the WTA 500 occasion in Charleston. Seeded 14th, she has a bye and can meet Sloane Stephens within the second spherical. 

The Canadian is in line to satisfy world No. 6 Ons Jabeur within the third spherical, though Paula Badosa and final week’s Miami champion Danielle Collins are each lurking in that loaded part of the draw. 

Ought to she overcome an inevitably tough third-round match, seventh seed Elina Svitolina may very well be ready within the quarter-finals, adopted by Maria Sakkari or Beatriz Haddad Maia within the semis. 

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Additionally in motion on the WTA Tour this week are Rebecca Marino, Marina Stakusic, and Carol Zhao, who’re all competing on the 250 occasion in Bogota, Colombia. 

Marino couldn’t have had worse luck with the draw, as she’s going to face the highest seed in each singles and doubles. She meets No. 1 seed Marie Bouzkova within the first spherical of the singles, whereas she and Zhao will conflict with the top-seeded pair of Bouzkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo within the doubles. 

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Stakusic will face the highest native participant, No. 6 seed Camila Osorio, within the first spherical and is within the backside quarter of the draw with No. 2 seed Tatjana Maria, a possible quarter-final opponent. 

Denis Shapovalov is the lone Canadian man competing on the ATP Tour this week, kicking off his clay marketing campaign in Houston on the ATP 250 occasion. He’ll face No. 7 seed Marcos Giron in spherical one 

A win would arrange a conflict with one other American JJ Wolf earlier than doubtlessly assembly second seed Francisco Cerundolo within the quarter-finals. No. 3 seed Frances Tiafoe is the projected semifinal opponent, with high seed Ben Shelton probably ready within the ultimate. 

Below the Radar: 

Liam Draxl got here the closest of any Canadian to grabbing a trophy final week on the decrease circuits, reaching the doubles ultimate on the ATP Challenger occasion in Sao Leo, Brazil.  

He and Italian companion Alexander Weis didn’t drop a set on their method to the ultimate, the place they misplaced 10-8 within the match tiebreak to second seeds Marcelo Demoliner and Orlando Luz. 

Whereas no Canadians reached the ultimate of the WTA 125 occasion in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, there was a selected results of word as Marina Stakusic and Rebecca Marino met within the first spherical. It was the youthful Canadian Stakusic strolling away with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-0 victory over her veteran countrywoman. 

Stakusic misplaced to the eventual champion Nadia Podoroska within the second spherical. 

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On the ATP Challenger Tour this week, Vasek Pospisil and Gabriel Diallo are competing at an occasion in Mexico Metropolis.  

At dwelling, the 2024 Fischer Indoor Junior Nationals are going down. Final week, the U12 and U16 champions had been topped. This week, the U14 and U18 championships are going down. 

You may observe the Canadians in motion each week right here.