The fall ITF swing continues this week with its annual stop in Ontario. The W75 Tevlin Challenger returns with some of the best women’s players competing at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto.
The event has been a mainstay on the ITF calendar since 2005 and has featured past Canadian champions like Gabriela Dabrowski, Eugenie Bouchard, and Aleksandra Wozniak.
Fung, Sebov lead Canadian charge
Hamilton’s Stacey Fung is the top ranked Canadian this week at the Tevlin Challenger. She is just one month removed from winning the ninth ITF singles title of her career. The 27-year-old captured the W35 event in Santarem, Portugal in September, her first singles trophy of 2024.
She also had a strong showing last week, reaching the quarter-finals of the W75 Saguenay Challenger. Fung, ranked No. 257, is seeded eighth this week.
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Toronto native Katherine Sebov is set to compete at her home tournament. The 25-year-old, who achieved a career-high ranking of 136 in April 2023, is a four-time ITF singles winner. She’s 20-18 on her season, with her strongest result being a semifinal run at the Rancho Santa Fe W75 three weeks ago. Sebov plays her opening round match against fellow Canadian Scarlett Nicholson.
Lucija Ciric Bagaric is the top seed at the Tevlin this week. The Croatian has enjoyed a breakout season, winning four ITF titles between January and March.
Richmond Hill’s Ariana Arseneault also takes the court in Toronto, and she’ll face fellow Canadian Isabelle Boulais in opening round action on Wednesday.
19-year-old Kayla Cross is also in the field. The London, Ontario native has captured six doubles titles in 2024, and her first career win in singles at the Saskatoon Challenger in August.
Nadia Lagaev is the youngest player in the field. The 16-year-old Canadian was name Tennis Canada’s Junior Player of the Year in 2023, and last week advanced to the quarter-finals of Saguenay.
There’s also doubles action this week, and Isabelle Boulais is partnering with veteran American Amy Zhu. Canadians Raphaelle Lacasse, Winnie Wing Yee Choi, and Nifemi Akinbiyi are also in the field.
Defending champion Marina Stakusic will not compete this year, fresh off the biggest title of her career at a WTA125 event in Mexico.
Action runs all week at Sobeys Stadium, with finals day on Sunday. The event is free for spectators to come and watch.