Tennis Canada

– Andreescu reaches quarter-finals in back-to-back years at $60,000 ITF event
– Compatriot Carol Zhao fell earlier in Thursday’s action
– Quarter-finals run Friday at Aviva Centre in Toronto; Admission is free

Toronto, November 2, 2017 – Seventeen-year-old Bianca Andreescu booked her spot among the remaining eight at the $60,000 Tevlin Challenger in Toronto, as second-round action played out at Aviva Centre on Thursday.

Andreescu defeated Kimberley Zimmermann of Belgium 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the quarter-finals. The Mississauga native fired eight aces in the hour and 32-minute contest.

“I was feeling the ball more compared to my other match [on Tuesday] and I think my serve was also on, which really helped me a lot throughout the match,” Andreescu said. “I think I was just more aggressive and more focused.”

It was that focus that helped carry the rising Canadian talent, seeded No. 3 in the tournament, through her match and set up a second straight appearance in the Tevlin Challenger quarter-finals.  

“I’m really happy to be back in the quarter-finals here. It for sure helps me,” said Andreescu of playing in a hometown tournament. “I love all the support and the crowd that comes out. I just love playing at home.”

Andreescu will look to rely on the home court advantage as she takes on her first seeded opponent of the tournament on Friday. She meets No. 8 Ysaline Bonaventure of Belgium. Bonaventure advanced on Thursday with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory against Russia’s Valeria Savinykh.

Canadian No. 5 seed Carol Zhao fell in her second-round match to Tamaryn Hendler on Thursday. Despite a strong performance by Zhao in the first set, the Belgian qualifier was able to fight back and produce a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory.

The final singles match of the day saw American Francesca Di Lorenzo battle Greta Arn for the remaining spot in the quarter-finals. Di Lorenzo defeated her Hungarian opponent 6-4, 6-0. She next takes on Hendler on Friday.

The last Canadian in doubles was eliminated on Thursday. Canada’s Anca Craciun and Trinidadian partner Yolande Leacock suffered a 6-2, 6-1 loss at the hands of Ysaline Bonaventure and Victoria Rodriguez.

The $60,000 Tevlin Challenger, part of the ITF Pro Circuit, runs through November 5 at York University’s Aviva Centre in Toronto. Former champions include Canadians Eugenie Bouchard, Aleksandra Wozniak, and Gabriela Dabrowski, as well as 2013 Wimbledon runner-up Sabine Lisicki of Germany. For full draws, complete scores, and order of play, please click here.

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, 8 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.

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