Wimbledon: Canadian report card
The 138th rendition of Wimbledon has come to an exciting conclusion, we are given the time to reflect and look back at and hand out grades to our seven Canadians who competed at the All England Club main draws. Some great stories, some, not so much. Let’s begin starting with the lowest grades and work our way up.
Felix Auger-Aliassime: C-
Felix Auger-Aliassime didn’t have the best of performances at Wimbledon. Given Felix’s great, but short, grass season, which saw two semi-final appearances in Mallorca and Stuttgart just weeks prior to Wimbledon. There was hope Auger-Aliassime would use that momentum to make some sort of run at this year's Championships. Felix, the 25th seed, was drawn in a nightmare section of the draw that would see him potentially face off with Spainard and World No.2 Carlos Alcaraz in round three. But unfortunately, that would not be the case.
Felix’s first round match was against James Duckworth. The 33-year-old Australian player whom Auger-Aliassime holds a 3-0 head-to-head record against. The match ultimately went five sets as Felix jumped out to an early advantage taking the first set in convincing fashion 6-2. Things quickly changed though when the Aussie then took sets two and three, and fans instantly began reminiscing of Felix’s poor performances at the slams over the years. Only appearing in the third round of a major tournament since the 2024 Australian Open. Doubt began to linger in the minds of some fans, but Auger-Aliassime stayed determined, and in the end came through in come back fashion, and taking the match in 5-sets and in 3 hours and 42 minutes behind 26 aces and 69 winners from Auger-Aliassime.
The second round was a lot different though, as Auger-Aliassime was set to take on Jan-Lennard Struff. A German player who has a history of giving our Canadians a tough task throughout the years. Don’t tell Denis Shapovalov that. Anyway, Felix wasn’t in for a guaranteed win which would see him meet Alcaraz in the next round. Auger-Aliassime goes into the match with Struff leading the head-to-head record by a slim margin at three wins and two losses. Regardless of Auger-Aliassime leading in their career showdowns, Struff actually leads in wins played outdoors over Aliassime 2-1. Although these two men have not faced off on grass before, it’s no secret Aliassime’s best surface comes indoors and is always in tough against a player similar to the Canadians playstyle. Auger-Aliassime looked good early on, taking the first set 6-3 and jumping out to the early lead. Only for the second set to be decided in a tiebreak which saw Felix lose the tiebreak 11-9. Struff then carried that momentum after that set and took home the victory in four sets.
Prior to his quarter-finals run at Wimbledon in 2021, Felix Auger-Aliassime has not had much luck at the All England Club, and has not made it past the second round since 2021. Felix will make a quick stop representing Canada alongside Bianca Andreescu at the Hopman Cup on July 19th upon coming back to Canada to play in Toronto for the National Bank Open.
Leylah Fernandez: Grade C
Going into Wimbledon, Leylah Fernandez was searching for answers, looking to grab some wins under her belt and pick up some momentum to what has been a dud, - but yet somehow steady season. Heading into the tournament, Fernandez would be the 29th seed, and was looking at a potential third round match-up against World No.7 Madison Keys.
Unfortunately, it never got that far. Fernandez would firstly take on 16-year-old Junior player from the United Kingdom, Hannah Klugman in round one. Although Fernandez won that match 6-1 6-3, fans weren’t overly impressed with the performance, still noticing some of the same flaws to Fernandez’s game. But that would all be forgotten for now. In the second round, Fernandez was set to take on another German player in Laura Siegemund. A 37-year-old feisty veteran player with multiple Grand Slam doubles titles to her name. Which meant Fernandez was in tough against a far more experienced opponent, who was also nearly double the age compared to her first round opponent Klugman, and expected to exploit some of Fernandez’s weaknesses.
The match got away from Fernandez early, going down a break of serve in the fourth and sixth games of the first set which Siegemund ultimately took 6-2. The second set was more of the same, two more breaks throughout the set; one of which included Fernandez serving to stay in the match. Fernandez didn’t see a breakpoint chance throughout the matches’ entirety and saw her serve numbers drop dramatically compared to her first round match. Fernandez’s level is dropping more frequently than it is rising, and to make matters worse, Siegemund ended up making a run to the quarter-finals and defeated the aforementioned Madison Keys in the 3rd round. Fernandez also lost in the first round of women’s doubles which saw her time come to a very early end at this year's Championships. Just not a great tournament overall for the 22-year-old Canadian. Fernandez now sits 35th on the WTA Rankings as she heads into her hometown tournament in Montréal, Canada in a few weeks time.
Denis Shapovalov: Grade C
It’s always been tough to predict what type of tournament Denis Shapovalov would have no matter what time of year it is, but going into this year's Wimbledon Championships; I don’t think many would have predicted it to end this way.
Following Shapovalov’s semi-final appearance at Wimbledon in 2021, fans - including myself, seem to carry this hope that maybe we can see that magic form again from Shapovalov at this prestigious tournament. Despite getting some decent reps in on grass tournaments leading up to Wimbledon, and even having a hitting session with Novak Djokovic prior to Wimbledons emergence; it was all to no avail. Shapovalov, the 27th seed, was set to take on Argentine and World No.91 Mariano Navone in round one. While Shapovalov jumped out to an early lead taking the first 6-3, despite the Canadian not playing his best tennis - that would quickly change. Navone’s level picked up, improving his serving numbers over Shapovalov throughout the match, and also hitting less errors than Shapovalov as the match progressed. This would prove to be critical as Denis would slowly start to lose his focus while Navone stayed composed and cleaned up his game dramatically forcing Shapovalov to ill-fatedly beat himself.
Navone led in every category in sets three and four over Shapovalov including serve numbers, breakpoint chances, winners and hit far less errors than Shapovalov overall. Navone went on to win the match in four sets 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 which meant Shapovalov’s tournament was already over on just Day 2. Although, it was very unlikely that Denis would have gotten past the third round at the All England Club due to being drawn in the same section as World No.1 and eventual Champion, Jannik Sinner. There was still hope that somehow he would still get there for said showdown against one of the very best in the game to get an idea of where Shapovalov’s game needs to be moving forward. An unfortunate let down against an opponent he certainly should have beaten given his preparation for the tournament.
Gabriela Dabrowski: B-
Gabriela Dabrowski has been searching for a Wimbledon Title along with her 2023 US Open women’s title, and mixed doubles titles at the 2018 Australian Open, and at Roland Garros in 2017. Dabrowski would join a very decorated list of players who have won all four grand slam doubles titles. Dabrowski’s partnership with longtime friend and Canadian born - who now represents New Zealand, Erin Routliffe has grown strong over the years. This partnership has resulted in multiple WTA titles, a WTA Finals title, a US Open title, and making the Wimbledon women’s doubles finals last year. Given Dabrowski and Routliffe’s run last year and finishing as runners-up, this year was a little different. The duo bowed out in the quarter-finals and Dabrowski was also eliminated in round one of mixed doubles. Not a total failure though, given Dabrowski’s on and off season with injury, openly discussing her winning battle with breast cancer this time last year, and giving athletes a safe space to come forward with these obstacles, Dabrowski will still have plenty more attempts to capture that eluded title and add it to her collection. Dabrowski is a formidable doubles player who should not go unrecognized. A solid player who has always been on top and in contention for tennis hardware no matter who she is partnered with.
Gabriel Diallo: B
Gabriel Diallo showed some good promise in his Wimbledon debut. Diallo opened the tournament with a straight sets victory over Germany’s Daniel Altmaier in round one. Which meant a showdown with American and World No.5 Taylor Fritz in round two. Two behemoth sized athletes, both with massive power behind them. Diallo held strong and forced the match to five sets. A match spanning just over three hours with quick service games that came along with it. Diallo got to experience one of the worlds best and gave it his all but ended up losing the match. The promising signs afterward are the statistics. Eerily similar in aces, Diallo’s 26 to Fritz’s 27, and Diallo’s 55 winners to Fritz’s 50. The only glaring difference ended up being the unforced error count - which obviously comes with the inexperience of Diallo.
As the match rolled along later in the fourth and fifth sets, Fritz forced Diallo into playing tougher shots and desperately returned every ball in hopes Diallo’s nerves in an attempt to win the match would get to him. They did. Diallo got to taste playing on one of the best courts in the game and also play against an inferior opponent he one day aims to try and become. Diallo sits now as the 38th ranked player on the ATP Rankings and is getting closer and closer to his Canadian compatriots Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Victoria Mboko: B+
Victoria Mboko is one name that most Candaians were very excited to see play on one of the sport's grandest stages. Mboko would have to go through qualifying at this event in order for her to participate in the main draw which would be her debut at Wimbledon. It was a tough battle for Mboko in rounds one and two in qualifying but the young Canadian got to the final round where all she needed was a win over Australia's Priscilla Hon. A player who knows the surface well and has gone through qualifying at Wimbledon many times before.
The match didn’t go Mboko’s way as Hon took the match in a three set battle. This drew the end of Mboko’s run for the main draw. For now. Hours before the final day of round one matches, there was a withdrawal on the women’s side which meant Mboko was in as a ‘Lucky Loser.’
She was now playing with house money and got to experience the full scale of these highly decorated Wimbledon Championships. Mboko made the most of her opportunity with a first round upset against World No.28 from Poland, Magdalena Fręch in straight sets.
Mboko would get to the second round but be eliminated after a tight battle against American Hailey Baptiste. At just 18-year-old, and throughout this year alone, Mboko has experienced her first Masters 1000 win, along with a third round appearance at Roland Garros and a 2nd round appearance at Wimbledon due to a lucky loser situation. This is just the beginning of Mboko’s promised tennis career. I’d say this was definitely a win for her.
Carson Branstine: A-
The biggest winner of them all - or highest grade, is given to Carson Branstine. The 24-year-old who openly admitted to nearly quitting the sport just before the French Open this past May if she didn’t at least play in qualifying. She did, and lost in the second round. Wimbledon went a little differently. Branstine went a perfect three for three in qualifying, including an upset in round one against Roland Garros semi-finalist Lois Boisson and then defeating fellow Canadian Bianca Andreescu in round two. In round three, Branstine came back from being down a set to win the match against Raluca Georgina Serban and earn a main draw spot at Wimbledon.
After a few days of waiting for the qualifiers to be placed in the draw and a random - yet obligated drug test immediately following qualifying - Branstine was officially in. Her reward? World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka on Court 1. Not exactly Centre Court, but not much different either. The match didn’t start out as Bransinte would have hoped; losing the first set 6-1. Although the second was a lot closer. It wasn’t until 5-all in the 2nd set that saw the first break of serve by Sabalenka. Branstine would go on to lose the set 7-5 and ultimately lose the match.
But an exceptional and unforgettable experience nonetheless, given Branstine’s grind over the past few years battling from injuries, winning titles on the ITF, winning a National Championship for Texas A&M, and now having a breakout year on the WTA, capped off with going toe-to-toe with World No.1 at Wimbledon. Definitely a win and deserving of a high grade among all Canadians.
It may not have been the tournament we were all expecting, and the top Canadians didn’t have the tournament they all hoped to have. However, the younger and upcoming players in Diallo, Mboko and Branstine gave Canadian tennis fans some positives to look forward to as they all plan to come home and play in Montréal and Toronto in just a few weeks time.
Hopefully we can hand out better grades at the conclusion of the National Bank Open in both cities and maybe witness some surprises on both the men’s and women’s side of things.
