Monday Digest: Raonic Headlines Beginning of Grass Season

Whereas the mud settles in Paris, the second Milos Raonic has been ready for arrives because the grass season will get underway this week. 

Raonic leads a big contingent of Canadians competing on the lawns of Europe to kick off the grass swing. 

Right here’s what it’s essential know. 

In Case You Missed It: Quiet Week Two in Paris 

With all of the Canadians eradicated from the singles within the first week of Roland-Garros, the main target was on the doubles, wheelchair, and junior occasions. 

Leylah Annie Fernandez bought to the third spherical of the ladies’s doubles with Erin Routliffe, however the pair have been upset by Marta Kostyuk and Elena Gabriela Ruse. 

Keegan Rice bought into the boys singles draw as a qualifier and received his opening match over Atakan Karahan in straight units however bowed out in spherical two in opposition to second seed Joel Schwarzler. In doubles, he and Czech companion Petr Brunclik have been eradicated within the first spherical. 

Rob Shaw was competing in each the quad singles and doubles however failed to select up a match win, shedding his opening match in each occasions. 

What to Watch: Raonic Again on the Grass 

There isn’t any scarcity of Canadian content material because the grass season will get underway correctly on the principle excursions this week.  

Grass means the return of Milos Raonic, who final competed in Indian Wells again in March. He’s competing on the ATP 250 occasion in s-Hertogenbosch, the place he’ll play eighth seed Jordan Thompson within the Netherlands for the second 12 months in a row. The missile from Thornhill would play both Roberto Bautista Agut or Marc Andrea Huesler in spherical two and will meet prime seed Alex de Minaur within the quarter-finals.  

Raonic made his return after an prolonged absence final 12 months in s-Hertogenbosch and received his opening match earlier than falling to Thompson in spherical two. 

Becoming a member of the Canadian veteran is Bianca Andreescu, who’s competing on the ladies’s facet in Holland. She faces Eva Vedder within the first spherical of the WTA 250 occasion and will play No. 6 seed Yue Yuan in spherical two. No. 4 Elise Mertens is her projected quarter-final opponent and Andreescu is within the prime half of the draw with Jessica Pegula. 

Learn additionally: Provincial and Territorial Tennis Associations Updates

Denis Shapovalov is already taking part in his second grass occasion of the 12 months however first on the principle tour as he’s competing on the 250 occasion in Stuttgart.  

He performs qualifier Matteo Martineau in his opening match and would meet both eighth seed Roman Safiullin or former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini in spherical two. Second seed Ben Shelton might then be ready within the quarter-finals. 

Two Canadian girls are competing on the WTA 250 occasion in Nottingham. Rebecca Marino got here by means of qualifying to achieve the singles primary draw and performs Viktorija Golubic in spherical one. She might meet third seed Katie Boulter within the second spherical. 

Gabriela Dabrowski makes her return in Nottingham, having skipped the whole clay season. She and Erin Routliffe are the highest seeds on the Rothesay Open. 

Below the Radar: Massive Win for Branstine 

For the second time in 2024, Carson Branstine has managed to win the most important title of her profession. 

After successful her first W35 in Monastir in January, the 23-year-old picked up her first W75 title final week in Sumter, South Carolina. 

Branstine was unseeded and needed to battle by means of a number of three-setters, capping off her run with a 7-6(6), 6-7(6), 6-1 win over American Sophie Chang to get her arms on her fifth ITF singles trophy. The Canadian additionally beat prime seed Maria Mateas in straight units within the semifinals. 

Two Canadians who spent their winters within the NCAA received their first ITF titles final week. 

Learn additionally: Branstine Returns to Lead Texas A&M to NCAA Title

Taha Baadi, who completed the 2023-24 season as the highest Canadian man within the singles rankings, received his first skilled title final week on the M15 occasion in Santo Domingo.  

After beating eighth-seeded countryman Juan Carlos Aguilar within the first spherical in straight units, he received back-to-back match tiebreaks, together with within the quarter-finals over prime seed Roberto Cid Subervi. From there, he didn’t drop one other set, capping off the run with a win within the last over fourth seed Peter Bertran. 

20-year-old Leena Bennetto received her first ITF title final week within the metropolis the place Branstine has had a lot success, Monastir, Tunisia, claiming the W15 doubles title with Janice Tjen of Indonesia. 

The pair dropped the opening set of their first match however didn’t lose one other for the remainder of the event. It was simply Bennetto’s third profession ITF doubles occasion. Having made her skilled debut in 2018, she solely began taking part in ITF occasions for the primary time since July of that 12 months this previous Might. 

Learn additionally: Farewell Serena – Remembering the 2022 Nationwide Financial institution Open

On the ATP Challenger Tour final week, Denis Shapovalov regarded to get his grass season off to an early begin on the occasion in Surbiton, UK. It was not the beginning he needed, nevertheless, as he misplaced within the first spherical to Aleksandar Vukic. 

This week, it’s Gabriel Diallo’s flip to kick off his grass marketing campaign on the Challenger occasion in Nottingham. 

You’ll be able to comply with the Canadians in motion each week right here.