THE CANADIANS ARE READY TO COME AGAIN!
Canada
September 6, 2023
Although the young Canadian stars didn’t quite get to fulfil their dreams in 2023, there are signs that 2024 could be very different.
Rest and recuperation could work wonders for Canada as we enter a new Grand Slam year.
DENIS AND FELIX
Even though he was injured, Denis Shapovalov still made the fourth round of Wimbledon 2023. What does that tell us? The guy who made the semi-finals of Wimbledon 2021 loves playing on grass! Shapovalov could go all the way at Wimbledon 2024. If his body allows him another deep run, he has the experience now.
It’s a similar story for another young Canadian hot-shot, Felix Auger Aliassime. He was a Wimbledon quarter-finalist in 2021 and he was showing all the promise in the world. Injury problems his Felix hard in 2023 – but he will emerge fresh and hungry for action in 2024. With the pressure off, why shouldn’t Felix come back strong again at Wimbledon 2024?
FINALISTS
A Canadian is going to win Wimbledon some time soon. They have come so close twice in the recent past. Big-serving Milos Raonic reached the Wimbledon final in 2016 and Eugenie Bouchard had done the same in 2014. The new generation could get the job done. And it isn’t just young men who are knocking on the door.
LEYLAH AND BIANCA
Leylah Fernandez is a fearsome Grand Slam contender on her day. She reached the US Open final in 2021 and came so close to taking the title. Only Toronto-born Emma Raducanu pipped her at the post. And Leylah reached the 2023 French Open final in the women’s doubles alongside Taylor Townsend. It feels like glory is just around the corner.
Leylah has the talent to achieve great things at Wimbledon if the puts her mind to it. And she isn’t the only one.
Bianca Andreescu already knows what it’s like to win a Grand Slam title after her extraordinary success in the US Open final of 2019 against the great Serena Williams. Andreescu will always be able to say she was the first Canadian to win a major – but she wants more silverware.
In 2023 Bianca reached the finals of the mixed doubles at the French Open with Michael Venus. And she showed great promise by reaching the third round of the singles at Wimbledon.
Canadians will see 2024 as the year of opportunity for their young stars at Wimbledon – and with good reason!
Featured image: Darren Carroll/USTA