Monday Digest: Dabrowski Looks for Improvement in Dubai

After some notable outcomes final week from the Canadian singles gamers, doubles is within the highlight this week as Gabriela Dabrowski leads the cost on the WTA 1000 occasion in Dubai. 

Aside from the doubles star, it’s a pretty quiet week for Canada on the primary excursions. 

Right here’s what you must know. 

In Case You Missed It: Fernandez Reveals Flashes 

For a minute final week in Doha, Leylah Annie Fernandez was giving off some 2021 US Open vibes. 

The Canadian No. 1 reached the quarter-finals on the first WTA 1000 occasion of the 12 months, the Qatar TotalEnergies Open, taking down two seeds and a former world No. 2 in spectacular style earlier than operating into the eventual runner-up Elena Rybakina within the remaining eight. 

Fernandez began out with a win over No. 12 seed Liudmila Samsonova, adopted it up by scoring her first win over Paula Badosa, after which shocked latest Australian Open runner-up Qinwen Zheng to achieve her second WTA 1000 quarter-final. She even had an early lead earlier than Rybakina turned across the quarter-final conflict. 

Doubles was a bit disappointing in Doha, as each Fernandez (through withdrawal) and Gabriela Dabrowski went out within the second spherical. 

Dabrowski and companion Erin Routliffe have been the second seeds however have been upset of their opening match by Ekaterina Alexandrova and Irina Khromacheva.  

Over in Rotterdam, Milos Raonic was the final of the three Canadians standing, though the match didn’t finish the best way he needed it to. 

Learn additionally: Every little thing You Must Know About Paris 2024

After two spectacular victories by which he didn’t drop serve, the highly effective Canadian gave eventual champion Jannik Sinner the whole lot he might deal with within the opening set of their quarter-final conflict, even having two set factors, however his physique failed him and Raonic was pressured to retire early within the second set. 

It was his deepest run at a match since reaching the Paris Masters semifinals in late 2020. 

Denis Shapovalov obtained into the primary attract Rotterdam as a qualifier, however had no luck being drawn towards Gael Monfils in spherical one, who bested the Canadian in two tiebreaks. 

Félix Auger-Aliassime received his opener towards Maxime Cressy after which had match factors to knock off second seed Andrey Rublev, however couldn’t convert and finally misplaced the thriller 7-5 within the third set. 

What to Watch: Dabrowski Goals to Bounce Again 

Gabriela Dabrowski is the lone Canadian nonetheless in a draw on the primary excursions this week. She and Erin Routliffe are the second seeds in Dubai, the second of the of the back-to-back WTA 1000s in February. 

After a first-round bye, Dabrowski and Routliffe will open their marketing campaign towards Anna Danilina and Shuai Zhang. 

If they’re victorious, they may have an opportunity at revenge for his or her Australian Open semifinal loss towards Lyudmyla Kichenok and Jelena Ostapenko. Their projected semifinal opponents are fourth seeds Storm Hunter and Katerina Siniakova. 

Leylah Annie Fernandez was additionally competing in Dubai, however was eradicated in spherical two of the singles on Tuesday morning by Jasmine Paolini, having overwhelmed Bernarda Pera within the first spherical. Fernandez additionally misplaced within the first spherical of the doubles.  

Underneath the Radar: Queen Kwong 

Louise Kwong is a winner on the ITF circuit for the third consecutive 12 months after she and companion Anna Ulyashchenko claimed the W15 title in Manacor, Spain. Kwon has received 5 titles since 2022, all with Ulyashchenko. 

The pair didn’t drop a set on their technique to the title, capping it off with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Patricja Paukstyte and Laia Petretic.  

Carson Branstine practically received her second title of 2024 on the ITF tour, however was pressured to retire within the second set of the W35 Antalya remaining towards Cristina Dinu. 

Rebecca Marino got here near grabbing a second title in as many weeks as she reached the semifinals of the W50 occasion in Morelia, Mexico, however she fell within the remaining 4 to high seed Hailey Baptiste.  

Marino has her eyes on an even bigger prize this week as she is competing on the WTA 125 occasion in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. 

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