Canadians Felix Auger-Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov win first-round matches in Halle
Article content
Canadians Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov had winning starts Tuesday at the Terra Wortmann Open grass-court tennis tournament.
Article content
Montreal's Auger-Aliassime fired 17 aces in a 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-1 first-round win over Serbian qualifier Laslo Djere.
Article content
Article content
After losing a closely contested second set, Auger-Aliassime won 93 per cent of first serve points and converted two of his three chances to break in a dominant third set.
Article content
The win was Auger-Aliassime's first over Djere in three tries. The world No. 27, who was coming off a run to the semifinals last week in Stuttgart, will next face the winner of a match between eighth seed Karen Khachanov of Russia and Belgium's Zizou Bergs.
Article content
Shapovalov fought his way into the second round of the ATP 500 event in Halle, Germany, with a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (4) upset of sixth seed Ugo Humbert of France.
Article content
The No. 31 from Richmond Hill, Ont., won on his first match point on a forced error when Humbert returned the Canadian's serve wide. Shapovalov improved his record against Humbert to 4-2.
Article content
Humbert had a chance to serve for the match with a double break point in Game 8 of the third set, but Shapovalov recovered to hold and tie it 4-4.
Article content
Shapovalov will next face No. 24 Flavio Cobolli of Italy.
Elsewhere, Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ont., was defeated in the first round of the WTA 500 Berlin Tennis Open 6-4, 6-3 by Amanda Anisimova of the United States.
Article content
Anisimova broke Andreescu three times on four chances to cruise to victory in 65 minutes.
Article content
Andreescu, who opened her grass season with a run to the quarterfinals of the Libema Open, fell to 7-7 on the season.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Globe and Mail
39 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Snead helps Montreal Alouettes to 2-0 start
Tyler Snead is making the most of his opportunities early this season with the Montreal Alouettes. The third-year receiver has seven catches for 151 yards in two games. His 21.6-yard average is even more impressive considering Snead has been targeted just eight times compared to 16 for Canadian Tyson Philpot (nine catches, 90 yards and a touchdown) and 14 for Austin Mack (10 receptions, 154 yards). Snead was targeted five times in Montreal's 39-18 win over the Ottawa Redblacks last week, recording four catches for 117 yards. Mack had nine targets (five catches, 103 yards), one more than Philpot (five receptions, 42 yards). 'The coolest thing about playing in this offence, it can be anyone's week on any given gameday,' Snead said. 'We've got many plays we gameplan for based on what the coaches see and like, we have coverages we prepare for early that end up working out in our favour with some big plays. 'Later we get different looks that get people open. It just happened to be a big first half for me (versus Ottawa) but next week it could be a big first half for anybody.' Snead's start is a positive sign given he was slowed by a foot injury last season. After posting 56 catches for 788 yards and five TDs in 15 games as a rookie in 2023, the five-foot-seven, 172-pound Raleigh, N.C., native had 24 receptions for 253 yards in seven contests last year. 'That was like my first major injury, the first time I had to miss games and it was definitely tough,' Snead said. 'But they (Als medical staff) did a great job with rehab and treatment so coming back for the last six games (in '24) and this year, I haven't even noticed it.' Montreal (2-0) visits the Edmonton Elks (0-1) on Thursday night. Its start comes with the remaining three East Division teams all 0-2. 'Tyler has shown tremendous resiliency coming back from an unfortunate injury in his 2024 campaign,' said Kenny Kim of Summit Athletes, Snead's Florida-based representative. 'I fully expected him to tackle his rehab head-on and as a result he's off to a fast start this season. 'Tyler is a humble, hard-working and determined individual and it's my expectation he'll continue to be a dominant force in this league.' Montreal hasn't skipped a beat with Davis Alexander in his first full season as the starting quarterback. Alexander won all four of last year's starts and is 6-0 overall. 'He's just a winner,' Snead said. 'Every time he steps on to the field he gets into that different mindset and plays to win. 'If you see your quarterback is confident, making plays, getting fired up and showing everyone he can do it, it's like that snowball effect where everybody wants to play good ball and then feels like everybody is.' But a stout Montreal defence — anchored by veteran linebackers Tyrice Beverette and Darnell Sankey — has more than done its part, allowing just 27 offensive points while forcing seven turnovers. 'We've got the league's best defence and that makes us better going against the best every day and competing,' Snead said. 'They're going to get turnovers, they're going to rally to the ball and hit you. 'I feel like we see a lot of two-and-outs and so it's the offence right back up, which gives us more confidence.' Snead's first CFL campaign was a memorable one, capping it with a '23 Grey Cup victory. Last year, Montreal posted a CFL-best 12-5-1 record before losing a 30-28 East Division final decision to the Toronto Argonauts, who ultimately won the Grey Cup. Snead said that memory fuelled his and many of his teammates' off-season workouts. 'The goal is the same every year, win a Grey Cup,' he said. 'But it (loss) definitely left a bitter taste in our mouth. 'I know that was on the mind of many guys. We put in a lot of hard work in during the off-season and now we're just trying to show it all during the regular season.' Snead, 25, admits sometimes having difficulty believing he's playing football professionally. 'It feels weird calling it a job because I have so much fun doing it,' he said. 'This is what I've loved doing since I was five years old. 'I'm grateful I get to play a game for a living but I love going out and competing with my teammates and sharing a win or learning lessons from a loss. I know one day it's going to end and it won't be here forever so I just try to enjoy everything about it while I can.'
National Post
43 minutes ago
- National Post
Beleaguered RHP Bowden Francis placed on IL, while Erik Swanson DFAed by Blue Jays
The state of the Blue Jays' pitching, already beset with issues, was thrown into upheaval well before Tuesday night's series opener against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks. Article content To begin with, embattled starter Bowden Francis, who has looked more minor league than major league, has been placed on the 15-day injured list with what the team described as right shoulder impingement. Article content Article content Per manager John Schneider, there's no structural damage to the shoulder. Article content No word on what kind of structural damage exists between the ears. Article content Francis has come unhinged for most of his starts this season, culminating with an outing in Philadelphia on the weekend when Francis walked three batters and hit two others in one inning. Article content Equally embattled Erik Swanson was dealt a more severe fate when the right-handed reliever was designated for assignment. Article content Swanson was the key piece the Blue Jays acquired three years ago when Teoscar Hernandez was dealt to Seattle. Article content As part of the deal, the Jays also acquired pitching prospect Adam Macko. Swanson has had his moments in Toronto, but his 2025 season has been an unmitigated disaster. Article content The veteran began the season on the injured because of an arm injury. Since his return on June 1, Swanson wasn't able to rediscover his form and became prone to serving up home runs. Article content In six games, Swanson recorded an ERA of 15.19. Article content Swanson has dealt with some personal issues off the field, but he persevered, an attitude that endeared him to his teammates and coaching staff. In the bottom line world of pro sports, results are all that matter and Swanson did not deliver. Article content The Jays, meanwhile, recalled right-hander Paxton Schultz from Triple-A Buffalo, while left-hander Justin Bruihl was selected to the major-league roster. Article content One of the team's most effective relievers in high leverage is Yimi Garcia, but he remains on the injured. Article content The team's presumptive fourth starter in Max Scherzer is scheduled to start Wednesday for the Buffalo Bisons with the goal to reach 70 pitches. Article content If all goes well, the veteran's next start will be back in the big leagues. Article content Scherzer's thumb injury, which was sustained in his Blue Jays debut, and Francis' on-going struggles put too much burden on the team's incumbent starters in Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt. Article content
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Oilers look to stave off elimination in must-win Stanley Cup Game 6 against Panthers
Edmonton's Stuart Skinner is back to starting in goal for the Oilers as they look to stave off elimination in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals against the Panthers in Florida. Skinner started the first four games of the final before being replaced by Calvin Pickard, who won Game 4 after relieving Skinner but went on to start and lose in Game 5. Up 3-2, the Panthers are just one win away from being crowned champions for a second year in a row, having defeated Edmonton in seven games last year. If the Oilers could force a Game 7 again this year, they'd have the benefit of playing the winner-take-all game in Edmonton on Friday. Edmonton's quest for a sixth cup will be difficult but not impossible — eight teams in NHL history have overcome a 3-2 deficit in the finals to win the Stanley Cup.
