Rogers Cup qualifying: Frank Dancevic advances as low-ranked Canadians get eliminated
Canadian Frank Dancevic moved one step closer to a berth in the Rogers Cup main draw, defeating Marius Copil in a Saturday qualifier at Uniprix Stadium.
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Frank Dancevic is a decade removed from his career-high ranking of No. 65 on the men’s tennis tour, but the 32-year-old from Niagara Falls turned back the clock Saturday in his bid to qualify for the main draw of the Rogers Cup Canadian Open men’s tennis championships.
Dancevic, whose ranking dropped to 357 after he missed seven months with a variety of injuries, upset No. 90 Marius Copil of Romania Saturday and will face American Tim Smyczek Sunday with the winner advancing to the main draw.
Rogers Cup qualifying: Frank Dancevic advances as low-ranked Canadians get eliminatedBack to video
“We’ve played a number of times over the years in Challengers and it should be a good match,” said Dancevic. “We have different styles, I play an aggressive game and he’s more of a counter-puncher. I was happy with my serve today and I was happy with my game.”
Dancevic said he plans to continue playing and he may play more doubles in the future to prolong his career.
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For the record, Smyczek holds a slim 3-2 edge over Dancevic in their head-to-head meetings.
Smyczek advanced to the final round of the qualifying with a 6-0, 6-4 win over Canadian Pavel Krainik.
With a number of players moving into the main draw because of injury dropouts, there were expanded opportunities for Canadian players and there were nine home-grown players in the 28-man draw. Dancevic was the lone Canadian to survive the first round but a number of players came up with strong performances.
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Raheel Manji, a Pickering, Ont., native who is heading into his senior year at Indiana University, took No. 86 Norbert Gombos of Slovakia to three sets before losing 6-3, 6-7, 6-1.
Philip Bester of North Vancouver, who will wrap up his 11-year pro career next week in a $100,000 Challenger in his hometown, lost to James McGee of Ireland 7-6, 6-3.
Filip Peliwo, who was the No. 1 junior in the world in 2012 when he won the Wimbledon and U.S. Open junior titles, is still trying to find his way above the Futures level. He gave Vincent Millot of France a battle in the first set but lost 7-6, 6-1.
Kelsey Stevenson, a Brighton, Ont., native who has spent most of his pro career playing in Asia, lost to 6-foot-11 American Reilly Opelka 6-4, 6-3.
“I grew up playing against Milos (Raonic) but (Opelka’s) serve is something else,” said Stevenson.
Stevenson moved overseas with his family after his father was transferred to China by Proctor and Gamble.
“We spent four years there and then went to India and now my father is in Singapore,” said Stevenson. “I was based in Thailand but I’ve also spent some time in Europe. When you’re a tennis player, you don’t really have a home, but I’m based here now.”
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The most fortunate player was Montrealer Antoine Leduc, a 29-year-old who didn’t expect to play. Leduc, who is No. 1,999, was offered a match after Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus withdrew with an elbow injury. Leduc lost to Britain’s Bryden Klein but he can say he played on the centre court at the Rogers Cup. He also picked up a cheque for $1,950. Prior to this week, he had career earnings of $3,358.
Matthew Ebden of Australia had no trouble beating junior Benjamin Sigouin of Vancouver 6-3, 6-1.
Samuel Monette of Montreal, a former Indiana University player, put up a fight before losing to No. 74, Israeli Dudi Sela 7-5, 6-3.
Denis Shapolavov, the 18-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., who received a wild card into the tournament, arrived to find that his draw had changed. He was supposed to play a special exempt player from one of the ATP Tour events this week, but there was nobody in that category and he will now play Rogerio Dutra Silva. The Brazilian is ranked No. 64 to Shapovalov’s No. 134, but the hardcourts here might give the Canadian an edge.
Qualifying resumes at 10 a.m. Sunday with Dancevic playing on centre court at noon.
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