As far as tennis seasons go, 2021 has been a captivating one with Leylah Fernandez and Félix Auger-Aliassime leading the field. And it’s far from over!
Auger-Aliassime has his sights set on one of the two year-end events reserved for the best of the best. The Wimbledon quarterfinalist and US Open semifinalist could close out the year on a particularly interesting run.
As far as the 21-and-under Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan, which will be held from November 9 to 13, Félix is already second in the race, just 165 points behind the leader and reigning champion Jannik Sinner.
And as far as the ATP Finals, they’re moving from London to Turin and will be played from November 14 to 21. There too, Auger-Aliassime is in the mix.
In the select group of Top 8 players (Top 9, actually, because Rafa decided to skip the event), the Quebecer is 455 points behind his doubles partner Hubert Hurkacz.
Confident he can still qualify, Félix is trying to capitalize on every lead he can by competing in the last events of the year: Antwerp, Vienna, Paris and Stockholm, if necessary (but he’ll have to choose between Sweden and the Next Gen in Milan).
He’s a card-carrying member of the world elite now, no doubt about it.
BILLIE JEAN KING cup
The end of the season also means the start of the international team events.
From November 1 to 6, Prague will host 16 nations at Billie Jean King Cup.
Leylah Fernandez was Canada’s no.1 but has chosen not to attend. On the team are Françoise Abanda, Rebecca Marino and Gabriela Dabrowski. Sylvain Bruneau is interim captain again this year.
I’ll keep you updated on the competition when it gets underway, but it’s too bad Bianca Andreescu and Fernandez won’t be there. In pre-pandemic form, she could have really made a difference.
DAVIS cup
After undergoing a complete overhaul two years ago, Davis Cup has added two host cities and been extended from seven to eleven days.
From November 25 to December 5, Innsbruck and Turin will each welcome two divisions before the competition moves to Madrid for the semis.
In Davis Cup 2.0, Canada surprised the world when the squad found its way to the Finals against Spain.
Who’ll play? We still don’t know, since Denis Shapovalov has yet to decide if he’s in or out.
TOUGH CHOICE
Both Leylah Fernandez and Félix Auger-Aliassime had incredible seasons, but who’s Canada’s best player?
