The ITF Fall swing now moves to Central Quebec this week, where competitors prepare for the third edition of the Saint-Augustin-De-Desmaures men’s event.
Alexis Galarneau and Liam Draxl are the top-ranked Canadians in action, headlining the M25 tournament, which features a 32-player singles draw and a 16-team doubles draw.
Galarneau Back Home
Quebec native Galarneau leads the home charge in Saint-Augustin, coming off a strong semifinal run at the Charlottesville Challenger last week.
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The 25-year-old is also preparing to represent Canada at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, Spain, later this month. The Laval native, who received a wild card to compete this week, is seeded second and will face the winner of an all-Canadian first-round match between Taha Baadi and Dan Martin.
Newmarket, Ontario’s Liam Draxl is set to compete as the No. 1 seed. The 22-year-old, now ranked world No. 236, has been in fine form, winning the M25 Edmonton title in early October and reaching the semifinals of the Calgary National Bank Challenger.
The 2022 Saint-Augustin runner-up, Justin Boulais, will also compete in the singles draw, joined by brothers Mikael and Nicolas Arseneault and Montreal native Jaden Weekes.
Alvin Nicholas Tudorica, Juan Carlos Aguilar, and Benjamin Thomas George round out the Canadian contingent.
Draxl Eyes Another Doubles Title
In addition to being the top seed in singles, Draxl is also competing in doubles this week. The former Kentucky college standout recently captured the doubles crown at the Dobrich Challenger in Bulgaria last month with fellow Canadian Cleeve Harper, marking his seventh career ITF doubles title and second of 2024.
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This week, Draxl will partner with American Boris Kozlov. The British duo of Ben Jones and Charles Broom are the top-seeded team, while six all-Canadian teams are also in the draw, including the Arseneault brothers, Boulais and Juan Carlos Aguilar, and the pairing of Weekes and Baadi.
Weekes reached the doubles final two years ago alongside Marko Stakusic. Also teaming up are Canucks Martin and Nicaise Muamba, George and Tudorica, and Andres Ispas and Eloi Rioux.
Main draw action begins Tuesday afternoon.