Tennis Canada – Former champ Dabrowski ousted in all-Canadian first round match up
 
Toronto, October 31, 2016 – Bianca Andreescu (Mississauga, Ont) became the first Canadian to secure her spot in the $50,000 Tevlin Women’s Challenger’s second round after defeating compatriot Gabriela Dabrowski (Ottawa) 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-4 at the Aviva Centre on Monday. Four other Canadians, including No. 3 seed Francoise Abanda (Montreal), will take to the courts for their first-round matches on Tuesday.

Andreescu’s campaign at the $50,000 ITF Pro Circuit tournament began with a shaky start. The 16-year-old rebounded after dropping the first set tie-break to win the next two sets and complete the two hour and twenty-six-minute victory over the 2014 Tevlin Challenger champion.

“It was tough to play someone from Canada, who’s older than you, and you’re also really close with,” said Andreescu. “I went into the match trying to stay focused and just remembering to play my game. It’s always hard after you lose that first set but I tried to forget about it, and just go point by point, then game by game.”

In other action, Canadian wild card Layne Sleeth (Unionville, Ont.) fell in her opening-round match to Mexico’s Renata Zarazua 6-2, 4-6, 6-1. In just the second professional main draw match for the 15-year-old, Sleeth overcame a tough first set loss, and pushed her 19-year old opponent to a deciding third set before being eliminated. 

Canadian qualifier Katherine Sebov (Kleinburg, Ont.) advanced into the main draw on Monday morning after winning her final qualifying match versus Elena Bovina of Russia 6-0, 7-5.

Also competing on Monday, Laura Schaeder of Germany upset No. 6 seed and last year’s runner-up Jovana Jaksic 6-4, 6-4. The German advances to the second round in her first appearance at the Toronto event. No. 5 seed Laura Robson of Great Britain was also upset. American Jessica Wacnik solved the former world No. 27 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 to advance to the second round.

On Tuesday, Carol Zhao (Richmond Hill, Ont.) kicks-off the order of play versus Ronit Yurovsky of the United States. Abanda is in action against American Emina Betkas. Charlotte Robillard-Millette (Montreal) faces off against Hungary’s Fanni Stollar, before Sebov takes on American Carson Branstine. The tournament’s top seed, Catherine Bellis faces fellow American Usue Maitane Arconada, while Belgium’s Elise Mertens, the No. 2 seed, begins her tournament against Caitlin Whoriskey of the United States.

The 12^th edition of the Tevlin $50,000 Women’s Challenger is being held at the Centre of Excellence, the indoor tennis facility at Aviva Centre from October 31 – November 6. The impressive list of past champions includes former world No. 5 and Wimbledon runner-up Eugenie Bouchard (2012), three-time WTA titlist Heather Watson (2010), 2013 Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki (2007), former world No. 21 Aleksandra Wozniak (2005), and last year’s winner Tatjana Maria of Germany. Admission to the public is free for the entire week.

About Tennis Canada
Founded in 1890, Tennis Canada is a non-profit, national sport association with a mission to lead the growth of tennis in Canada and a vision to become a world-leading tennis nation. We value teamwork, passion, integrity, innovation and excellence. Tennis Canada owns and operates the premier Rogers Cup presented by National Bank WTA and ATP World Tour events, 10 professional ITF-sanctioned events and financially supports 12 other professional tournaments in Canada. Tennis Canada operates national junior training centres/programs in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary. Tennis Canada is a proud member of the International Tennis Federation, the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and the International Wheelchair Tennis Association, and serves to administer, sponsor and select the teams for Davis Cup, Fed Cup, the Olympic and Paralympic Games and all wheelchair, junior and senior national teams. Tennis Canada invests its surplus into tennis development. For more information on Tennis Canada, please visit our website at www.tenniscanada.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
 
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