Six Canadians advance to singles quarterfinals at Calgary National Bank Challenger

Stacey Fung, Kayla Cross, Cadence Brace, Rebecca Marino, Liam Draxl and Alexis Galarneau are all ready for quarterfinal action at the 2024 Calgary National Bank Challenger.

The Canadian men and women gear up for quarters in singles play, beginning Friday at the Osten & Victor Alberta Tennis Centre.

On Thursday in quarters play, it was Ontario’s Liam Draxl — ranked seventh among men at the event — downing Germany’s Louis Wessels 7-6 (4), 6-1, while Galarneau — rated sixth at The Challenger — dropped compatriot Vasek Pospisil 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-3.

Vancouver’s Fung took down Australia’s Jaimee Fourlis 6-3, 6-3 to reach the quarters, while Ontario’s Cross downed Czechia’s Gabriela Andrea Knutson 6-4, 6-2 to make the round. Toronto’s Brace topped France’s Julie Belgraver 7-5, 6-4, and Vancouver’s Marino defeated Japan’s Ayumi Koshiishi 6-3, 6-2.

Also in men’s singles action, Canada’s Benjamin George lost to Andre Ilagan of the United States 6-4, 7-5, Calgary’s Cleeve Harper lost to American Aidan Mayo 6-4, 7-6 (3) and Canada’s Justin Boulais lost to Wessels 7-6 (2), 2-6, 6-4.

On the women’s side, Canada’s Carson Branstine lost to Germany’s Tatjana Maria 6-0, 7-5.
In men’s doubles late Thursday, Draxl and Harper defeated Wessels and fellow German Tim Handel 6-2, 6-3 for a spot in the semis.
Also Thursday, Cross and Maribella Zamarripa of the U.S. downed Americans Karina Miller and Fiona Crawley 7-6 (3), 6-1 to advance to the women’s doubles semis.
In another quarterfinal, Brace and American Jamie Loeb defeated the U.S. pairing of Anna Rogers and Jessica Failla 6-2, 6-3
The Challenger, which runs through Sunday at the ATC, is currently the largest international tennis tournament in Canada outside of the National Bank Open, which is comprised of the ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 events. The Challenger features many of the best up-and-coming and established stars on the ATP Tour and WTA World Tour.

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