Canada’s extraordinary rise as a tennis nation in 2019 is showing no signs of slowing down with two of their biggest talents set to play in the Miami Open semi-finals.
18-year-old Felix Auger-Aliassime and 19-year-old Denis Shapovalov are the two youngest players in the top 100 on the men’s tour. At the Miami Masters, both of them have exceeded expectations. However, it is Montreal-born Auger-Aliassime that has impressed the most. The teenager has defeated three seeds on route to the last four, including Borna Coric. A run that has already guaranteed him a place in the world’s top 35 when the rankings are updated. A substantial rise for a player who started the season outside the top 100.
“I think I have been just improving in the last couple of weeks. But I don’t want to look back right now. I think I will do at the end of the tournament. Right now I’m looking forward to the next match and how far I can go in this tournament.” The former US Open boys champion said following his win over Coric.
Meanwhile, for Shapovalov Miami will be the third Masters 1000 semi-final he has contested in his career. Seeded 20th in the tournament, he has scored wins over Stefanos Tsitsipas and Frances Tiafoe. At the 2017 Canadian Open, he became the youngest Masters semi-finalist since the series was introduced in 1990.
“There is definitely a lot of young talent coming in.” He said. “It’s just that point in the ATP, you still have kind of the legends, Rog, Rafa, still there on top, but you have a lot of newcomers with talent kind of gunning for them. Every week it feels like someone new is making a breakthrough and playing well.”
Besides the duo, Canada also has a rising star on the women’s tour in the shape of Bianca Andreescu. Who recently won the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and is undefeated against top 10 opposition this year.
“It’s great to see her on the court healthy, playing really well. Honestly, it’s insane what she’s doing.” Shapovalov commented on his compatriots performance. “I mean, not even I could believe it, and I know how good and talented she is. So it’s great to see it from her.
In the wake of the success for Canada’s rising stars, many are wondering how it has happened. Is it just a coincidence or has Tennis Canada struck gold with their player development program? In reality it is a bit of both.
Shapovalov points out that all three grew up training is separate programs to each other. Forming a rivalry between all three of them, which seems to be pushing them further up the ranks.
“I think we all kind of come from different ways. Felix comes from the program in Montreal. Bianca comes from the program in Toronto. I come from my own team and my own ways.” He explained.
“I don’t know really what is going on, but I think if I say, for the men’s side, it’s been kind of almost a rivalry with me and Felix, and I feel like we have been able to kind of thrive on each other’s results and push each other.”
The men’s semi-finals will take place at the Miami Open on Friday. Auger-Aliassime plays defending champion John Isner, and Shapovalov faces his idol Roger Federer.
