GATINEAU, July 21, 2018
There were two spots in the doubles finals and two in the singles semi-finals up for grabs for Canadian players on Friday at the Gatineau National Bank Challenger. The tournament features a mixed draw, with the men competing in the $75,000 ATP Challenger event and the women competing in the $25,000 ITF Challenger event. The tournament will be held from July 14 to 22 at Parc de l’Île in Gatineau.
Looking to reach her fourth singles semi-final of the year was Katherine Sebov from Toronto, the fifth seed at this year’s tournament. She was taking on Alicia Barnett of Great Britain. After taking the first set rather quickly, the Canadian experienced difficulties maintaining her level in the second, especially on serve. Both players’ had to deal with rather intense heat, as their match was being played under the hot sun in the middle of the afternoon. Sebov’s opponent managed to force a decider, where she defeated the young Canadian 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Peter Polansky (photo: Sarah-Jäde Champagne/Tennis Canada)
Playing in the final match of the day was Peter Polansky from Thornhill, as he was taking on Ugo Humbert of France. Despite the Canadian begin the tournament favourite, it was the Frenchman who was coming into the quarterfinal match on a hot streak. Earlier in the week, he had defeated two other Canadians, Brayden Schnur and Benjamin Sigouin. After the first two sets went to a tiebreak it was only fitting that the decider would also go the distance. Despite having four match points in the second set, Polansky was unable to overcome his hard hitting opponent, losing 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 7-6(4) in a marathon match that lasted just over three hours.
Canadians reach doubles finals
The team of Bianca Andreescu from Mississaugaand Carson Branstine from Orange were in doubles semi-final action. The Canadian pair were playing in their first tournament together since reaching the final at the National Bank Cup in Quebec City last September. While Andreescu has been mainly focused on singles, Branstine has been nursing an injury. Despite facing tough opponents in Sophie Chang and Alexandra Mueller of the United States, the tournament’s second seeds, the Canadian girls came out flying to start the match. They dominated the semi-final from start to finish, needing only an hour to take care of the US-American team, winning by a score of 6-2, 6-1. They will play in the final on Saturday against the team of Chieh-Yu Hsu of Chinese Taipei and Marcela Zacarias of Mexico.
Polansky booked his spot in the men’s doubles final earlier in the day, plating alongside partner Darian King of Barbados. The two handily ousted the top doubles seeds by a score of 6-4, 6-2. They will play against the US-American pair of Robert Galloway and Bradley Klahn, the tournament’s second seeds.
The Gatineau National Bank Challenger is the first of two mixed draw tournaments held in Quebec during the month of July. The tournament will be followed by the Granby National Bank Challenger.
