Diallo opens grass-court season with win over Vukic at Libema Open
Canadian tennis player Gabriel Diallo kicked off his grass-court season with a 7-5, 7-6 (2) win over Australia's Aleksandar Vukic on Monday at the Libema Open.
The 23-year-old from Montreal had 13 aces and no double faults in the win at the ATP/WTA 250 tournament in s'-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.
Diallo had the only break of the match, and crucially it came in the final game of the first set when the Canadian returned to love. He did not have another chance to break in the 92-minute contest.
Vukic was not as productive on his chances as Diallo saved all four break points he faced, including two in the 11th game of the second set.
Diallo will face another Australian, sixth seed Jordan Thompson, in the second round.
In women's doubles action, Canadians Bianca Andreescu and Carson Branstine defeated Russian pair Anastasia Potapova and Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6 (2), 7-5. They will next face the second-seeded team of Hungary's Fanny Stollar and Russia's Irina Khromacheva.
Meanwhile, at the WTA 500 Queen's Club Championships in London, England, Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., lost her first-round match 7-6 (4), 6-2 to Germany's Tatjana Maria.
Thursdays
Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.
Maria fired seven aces and converted three breaks on seven chances, compared to one in four chances for Fernandez.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
3 hours ago
- Global News
Countdown clocks mark 1 year until World Cup soccer fans descend on Toronto, Vancouver
The one-year countdown to the 2026 World Cup starts Wednesday, with clocks to be unveiled to mark the occasion in Toronto, Vancouver and Niagara Falls. Toronto and Vancouver are World Cup host cities. Niagara Falls offers a world-class backdrop for a reminder that FIFA's expanded 48-team soccer showcase is just around the corner. There are more milestones to come in Canada, with a call for some 7,000 volunteers to be issued in August, ticket sales starting in September and the tournament draw in December. Adidas has yet to unveil the match ball. Tournament mascots will also be introduced. The tournament's official poster will join those of the 16 host cities. And the World Cup trophy is scheduled to make an appearance in Ottawa on Canada Day. The World Cup kicks off June 11, 2026, with games in Mexico City and Guadalajara. On June 12, the focus switches to matches in Toronto and Los Angeles. Story continues below advertisement The final is set for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. 'It's nine years so far on this project,' said Peter Montopoli, chief tournament officer for Canada. 'This marathon is now at one year out, turned into a sprint. I think that's the part we really enjoy. For the people who love to run events, this is the part that really excites them. This is where all the magic happens in the last year. 'So it's exciting. It's an exciting time to be running the event, it's an exciting time for FIFA and it's an exciting time for our country.' In all, there will be 104 games, with 13 each in Canada and Mexico and the remaining 78 in the U.S. The last seven editions of the tournament featured 32 teams and 64 games. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy In addition to co-hosts Canada, Mexico and the U.S., Japan, Iran, Japan, Jordan, South Korea and Uzbekistan have already qualified from Asia, along with New Zealand from Oceania and defending champion Argentina from South America (CONMEBOL). It will be a first World Cup appearance for both Jordan and Uzbekistan. On Wednesday, the two Canadian host cities will also release anniversary videos with actor Will Arnett featured in Toronto's and former Canada goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc in Vancouver's. Story continues below advertisement Canadians will be able to apply for tickets two ways — through the FIFA lottery (assuming FIFA follows past practices) and via membership in Canada Soccer's Canada Red program, which will distribute the ticket allotment for Canada matches. 'There's different ways to purchase (tickets),' said Montopoli. 'If you want to get in early, you go in the fall.' Montopoli said there is no word yet on ticket pricing. While the full match schedule won't be known until the draw, Canada will open in Toronto and then play its remaining group games in Vancouver. Toronto and Vancouver will each host five opening-round matches plus a round-of-32 knockout match. Vancouver will also stage a round-of-16 game. Canada Soccer is revamping its existing Canada Red membership program, expanding it from the current three tiers (the first free and the other two at a cost of $50 and $150 annually) to seven levels (from free to $5,000 annually). Each tier provides access to Canada Soccer's ticketing allotment lottery for games featuring the Canadian men — the higher the tier, the higher the chances of securing tickets. FIFA traditionally reserves a portion of each World Cup game's tickets for the participating member federations. This is Canada Soccer's method of distributing them. Canada Soccer also used a Canada Red tiered approach for tickets for Canada's games at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Story continues below advertisement Canada Red members in the top tiers will have the best chance to access tickets as they will have access to the first draw and each subsequent draw afterwards. Canada Red, the new version of which launches later this summer, 'directly supports' Canada Soccer's philanthropic initiatives, according to Canada Soccer. The Canada Red program currently has more than 100,000 members. While the clock counts down, the City of Toronto is still looking for funds to help pay for its end of the tournament, arguing that it is having to dig deeper into its pocket because the cost of providing services related to public transport, policing and hospitals, among others, has increased to almost $40 million in total — reducing the provincial cash contribution and adding to the city's bill. The cost of hosting six games in Toronto has been pegged at $380 million, with the federal government contributing $104 million and Ontario, including services, $97 million. Toronto's tab is $178.7 million (47 per cent of the total cost). A ring of permanent suites is under construction at B.C. Place Stadium. BMO Field will get an additional 17,750 seats, bringing total capacity to around 45,735 seats, with the north and south ends expanded. Two of four new video screens are now working at BMO Field, which is also getting new suites. Story continues below advertisement FIFA will take over the tournament stadiums 30 days before the first game there, which would mean May 13 for Toronto and May 14 for Vancouver. The tournament office in Toronto, already up and running, will have 82 full-time staff — it's currently around 70 — with most getting an early taste of tournament work via the FIFA Club World Cup, which kicks off later this month in the U.S. The Vancouver office opens next Tuesday ahead of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. 'We know what we need to do to execute,' Montopoli said of tournament preparation. 'So we feel very comfortable in where we stand today. There's always little nuances that can happen, but as of today — one year out — we're exactly where we felt we needed to be to position ourselves for success.'
Winnipeg Free Press
4 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Ideson, Forrest headline Curling Canada's candidates for 2026 Paralympic team
OTTAWA – Curling Canada has announced its pool of candidates for its 2026 Paralympic Winter Games team. Canadians have finished in the medals in five straight Paralympic Games, with gold in 2006, 2010 and 2014, and bronze in 2018 and 2022. The 2026 Paralympic Games will be March 6-15 in Milan and Cortina, Italy. The country's governing body of curling named 14 athletes to its national wheelchair program for 2025-26 on Tuesday. Canada qualified for the Paralympic mixed team event again, but did not in mixed doubles, which makes its Paralympic debut in Italy. Jon Thurston of Dunsford, Ont., Gilbert Dash of Kipling, Sask., Doug Dean of Thunder Bay, Ont., and Ottawa's Collinda Joseph and Chrissy Molnar return to the national program after taking bronze at the 2025 world wheelchair championship in Stevenston, Scotland. Mark Ideson of London, Ont., who skipped Canada to back-to-back Paralympic bronze as well as world championship silver medals in 2020 and 2023, also returns alongside two-time Paralympic champ Ina Forrest of Spallumcheen, B.C. Ideson and Forrest lost to Japan in the quarterfinals of the world mixed doubles championship in March to fall short of qualifying Canada for the sport's Paralympic debut. Toronto's Jillian Hopkins, Dennis Thiessen of Sanford, Man., and Marie Wright of Moose Jaw, Sask., rounded out the senior athletes announced Tuesday. Canada's Paralympic team announcement is expected in late fall, Curling Canada said Tuesday in a statement. 'This group of national program athletes shows up every day, ready to put in the work and dig into the process of improving,' Canada's head coach Mick Lizmore said in the statement. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 'The way they support and push each other forward is what makes this journey so special. Together, with the support of family, friends, and a dedicated support staff, they're building toward benchmarks and goals throughout the season with eyes on arriving at the Paralympics prepared and ready to execute.' Karl Allen of Keene, Ont., LeeAnn Cayer of Port Robinson, Ont., Terry Fowler of Cochrane, Alta., and Reid Mulligan were named to the NextGen team. Athletes will compete in Wetzikon, Switzerland, and Stirling, Scotland, in October before heading to Prague, Czech Republic, in November. The national mixed and mixed doubles events Jan. 11-17 will be in Leduc, Alta. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 10, 2025.
Vancouver Sun
4 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
It's time: Countdown clocks signal kickoff of 2026 FIFA World Cup is one year away
The one-year countdown to the 2026 World Cup starts Wednesday, with clocks to be unveiled to mark the occasion in Toronto, Vancouver and Niagara Falls. Toronto and Vancouver are World Cup host cities. Niagara Falls offers a world-class backdrop for a reminder that FIFA's expanded 48-team soccer showcase is just around the corner. There are more milestones to come in Canada, with a call for some 7,000 volunteers to be issued in August, ticket sales starting in September and the tournament draw in December. Adidas has yet to unveil the match ball. Tournament mascots will also be introduced. The tournament's official poster will join those of the 16 host cities. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. And the World Cup trophy is scheduled to make an appearance in Ottawa on Canada Day. The World Cup kicks off June 11, 2026, with games in Mexico City and Guadalajara. On June 12, the focus switches to matches in Toronto and Los Angeles. The final is set for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. 'It's nine years so far on this project,' said Peter Montopoli, chief tournament officer for Canada. 'This marathon is now at one year out, turned into a sprint. I think that's the part we really enjoy. For the people who love to run events, this is the part that really excites them. This is where all the magic happens in the last year. 'So it's exciting. It's an exciting time to be running the event, it's an exciting time for FIFA and it's an exciting time for our country.' In all, there will be 104 games, with 13 each in Canada and Mexico and the remaining 78 in the U.S. The last seven editions of the tournament featured 32 teams and 64 games. In addition to co-hosts Canada, Mexico and the U.S., Japan, Iran, Japan, Jordan, South Korea and Uzbekistan have already qualified from Asia, along with New Zealand from Oceania and defending champion Argentina from South America (CONMEBOL). It will be a first World Cup appearance for both Jordan and Uzbekistan. On Wednesday, the two Canadian host cities will also release anniversary videos with actor Will Arnett featured in Toronto's and former Canada goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc in Vancouver's. Canadians will be able to apply for tickets two ways _ through the FIFA lottery (assuming FIFA follows past practices) and via membership in Canada Soccer's Canada Red program, which will distribute the ticket allotment for Canada matches. 'There's different ways to purchase (tickets),' said Montopoli. 'If you want to get in early, you go in the fall.' Montopoli said there is no word yet on ticket pricing. While the full match schedule won't be known until the draw, Canada will open in Toronto and then play its remaining group games in Vancouver. Toronto and Vancouver will each host five opening-round matches plus a round-of-32 knockout match. Vancouver will also stage a round-of-16 game. Canada Soccer is revamping its existing Canada Red membership program, expanding it from the current three tiers (the first free and the other two at a cost of $50 and $150 annually) to seven levels (from free to $5,000 annually). Each tier provides access to Canada Soccer's ticketing allotment lottery for games featuring the Canadian men — the higher the tier, the higher the chances of securing tickets. FIFA traditionally reserves a portion of each World Cup game's tickets for fans from the countries involved. This is Canada's method of distributing them. Canada Soccer also used a Canada Red tiered approach for tickets for Canada's games at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Each of the seven Canada Red tiers will be allotted some 14 per cent of Canada Soccer's ticket pool. But Canada Red members in the top tiers will have the best chance to access tickets as they will have access to the first draw and each subsequent draw afterwards. Canada Red, the new version of which launches in late July, 'directly supports' the Canada Soccer Foundation, according to Canada Soccer. While the clock counts down, the City of Toronto is still looking for funds to help pay for its end of the tournament, arguing that it is having to dig deeper into its pocket because the cost of providing services related to public transport, policing and hospitals, among others, has increased to almost $40 million in total — reducing the provincial cash contribution and adding to the city's bill. The cost of hosting six games in Toronto has been pegged at $380 million, with the federal government contributing $104 million and Ontario, including services, $97 million. Toronto's tab is $178.7 million (47 per cent of the total cost). A ring of permanent suites is under construction at B.C. Place Stadium. BMO Field will get an additional 17,750 seats, bringing total capacity to around 45,735 seats, with the north and south ends expanded. Two of four new video screens are now working at BMO Field, which is also getting new suites. FIFA will take over the tournament stadiums 30 days before the first game there, which would mean May 13 for Toronto and May 14 for Vancouver. The tournament office in Toronto, already up and running, will have 82 full-time staff — it's currently around 70 — with most getting an early taste of tournament work via the FIFA Club World Cup, which kicks off later this month in the U.S. The Vancouver office opens next Tuesday before the CONCACAF Gold Cup. 'We know what we need to do to execute,' Montopoli said of tournament preparation. 'So we feel very comfortable in where we stand today. There's always little nuances that can happen, but as of today — one year out — we're exactly where we felt we needed to be to position ourselves for success.'
