August 23, 2016
AUGER-ALIASSIME, SIGOUIN AND ANDREESCU AMONG THE TOP SEEDS FOR THE NATIONAL BANK INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR TENNIS OPEN IN REPENTIGNY
Tennis Canada – AUGER-ALIASSIME, SIGOUIN AND ANDREESCU AMONG THE TOP SEEDS FOR THE NATIONAL BANK INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR TENNIS OPEN IN REPENTIGNY
Repentigny, August 23, 2016 – Tennis Canada announced Tuesday the list of players who will be competing in the National Bank International Junior Tennis Open in Repentigny. Sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the tournament will be held from August 28 to September 3 at Parc Larochelle.
On the boys’ side, Canadians Félix Auger-Aliassime (Montreal, QC) and Benjamin Sigouin (Vancouver, BC) will be among the favourites to take home the title. Auger-Aliassime is slated to be the tournament’s second seed thanks to his no. 5 world junior ranking. Last year, the 16-year-old was a finalist in Repentigny, falling in three sets to Mate Valkusz of Hungary. This season, he lost a heartbreaker in the championship match at Roland-Garros and also reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon. At the pro level, he competed in the Rogers Cup presented by National Bank for the first time this summer and was defeated in qualifying. For his part, Sigouin is slated to be the fifth seed in Repentigny thanks to his strong 2016 campaign which has included a Grade 1 title at the Astrid Bowl in Belgium and a quarter-final appearance at Roland-Garros. American Ulises Blanch, the no. 4 ranked junior in the world, is the top ranked player entered. The 18-year-old reached a career-high ranking of no. 2 and was a semifinalist at Wimbledon.
On the girls’ side, Bianca Vanessa Andresscu (Toronto, ON) received a wild card for the main draw. She recently won her first professional titles at the Gatineau National Bank Challenger in both singles and doubles with partner Charlotte Robillard-Millette (Blainville, QC). As the reigning champion, she will try to defend her title in 2016. World no. 12 Olga Danilovic of Serbia should be the second seed. The 15-year-old lefty has already won two tournaments in 2016, both Grade 2 events. She was also crowned champion in doubles at Roland-Garros alongside her Spanish partner Arias Manjon, who is also entered. Brit Katie Swan will also be a player to watch. Last January, she was the no. 2 ranked junior in the world and she is returning to Repentigny after falling in the quarter-finals last year to the eventual champion, Andreescu. Swan was awarded a wildcard into the women’s main draw at Wimbledon in June and was defeated in the first round by Timea Babos of Hungary.
Six players in both the boys’ and girls’ singles draw will be awarded wildcards which will increase the size of the Canadian delegation.
Over the years, the Repentigny tournament has crowned some of the biggest names in tennis. Former champions of the event include the likes of Victoria Azarenka, Eugenie Bouchard, Gaël Monfils, Andy Murray, Andy Roddick, Milos Raonic, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The 31st edition of the tournament could once again help discover the game’s next big star.
TVA Sports returns as the tournament’s official broadcaster
Following the successful broadcasting of the event over the past four years, TVA Sports will be back once again as the tournament’s official broadcaster. Tennis fans across Quebec will be able to watch some of the world’s best junior players. Coverage will begin with the semifinals on Friday September 2 and will finish with the finals on Saturday September 3.
On the boys’ side, Canadians Félix Auger-Aliassime (Montreal, QC) and Benjamin Sigouin (Vancouver, BC) will be among the favourites to take home the title. Auger-Aliassime is slated to be the tournament’s second seed thanks to his no. 5 world junior ranking. Last year, the 16-year-old was a finalist in Repentigny, falling in three sets to Mate Valkusz of Hungary. This season, he lost a heartbreaker in the championship match at Roland-Garros and also reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon. At the pro level, he competed in the Rogers Cup presented by National Bank for the first time this summer and was defeated in qualifying. For his part, Sigouin is slated to be the fifth seed in Repentigny thanks to his strong 2016 campaign which has included a Grade 1 title at the Astrid Bowl in Belgium and a quarter-final appearance at Roland-Garros. American Ulises Blanch, the no. 4 ranked junior in the world, is the top ranked player entered. The 18-year-old reached a career-high ranking of no. 2 and was a semifinalist at Wimbledon.
On the girls’ side, Bianca Vanessa Andresscu (Toronto, ON) received a wild card for the main draw. She recently won her first professional titles at the Gatineau National Bank Challenger in both singles and doubles with partner Charlotte Robillard-Millette (Blainville, QC). As the reigning champion, she will try to defend her title in 2016. World no. 12 Olga Danilovic of Serbia should be the second seed. The 15-year-old lefty has already won two tournaments in 2016, both Grade 2 events. She was also crowned champion in doubles at Roland-Garros alongside her Spanish partner Arias Manjon, who is also entered. Brit Katie Swan will also be a player to watch. Last January, she was the no. 2 ranked junior in the world and she is returning to Repentigny after falling in the quarter-finals last year to the eventual champion, Andreescu. Swan was awarded a wildcard into the women’s main draw at Wimbledon in June and was defeated in the first round by Timea Babos of Hungary.
Six players in both the boys’ and girls’ singles draw will be awarded wildcards which will increase the size of the Canadian delegation.
Over the years, the Repentigny tournament has crowned some of the biggest names in tennis. Former champions of the event include the likes of Victoria Azarenka, Eugenie Bouchard, Gaël Monfils, Andy Murray, Andy Roddick, Milos Raonic, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The 31st edition of the tournament could once again help discover the game’s next big star.
TVA Sports returns as the tournament’s official broadcaster
Following the successful broadcasting of the event over the past four years, TVA Sports will be back once again as the tournament’s official broadcaster. Tennis fans across Quebec will be able to watch some of the world’s best junior players. Coverage will begin with the semifinals on Friday September 2 and will finish with the finals on Saturday September 3.
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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, eight professional ITF- sanctioned events and financially supports 15 other professional tournaments in Canada. Tennis Canada operates national junior training centres/programs in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. 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.
Information
Valérie Tétreault
Regional Manager, Communications and Media Relations
514-273-1515, extension 6259
vtetreault@tenniscanada.com
Justine Poirier
Coordinator, Communications and Media Relations
514-273-1515, extension 6291
jpoirier@tenniscanada.com