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The Sweet Sixteen has a hint of maple flavour to it at The Challenger.
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Two Canadians are through to the quarterfinal round of the 2023 Calgary National Bank Challenger at the OSTEN & VICTOR Alberta Tennis Centre.
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That’s one in each of the men’s and women’s draws — Montreal’s Gabriel Diallo in ATP Challenger Tour play and Vancouver’s Stacey Fung in ITF Women’s Pro Circuit after success Thursday in the week-long event.
Diallo took out Portugal’s Joao Sousa 5-7, 7-5, 6-3. The men’s fourth seed now sets up to play Tunisia’s Aziz Dougaz — the eighth seed — in quarterfinal action.
And Fung ousted Great Britain’s Sarah Beth Grey 6-2, 7-5. The women’s fifth seed is next slated to take on Switzerland’s Lulu Sun — the three seed — in the quarters.
Diallo and Fung weren’t the only Canadian winners Thursday.
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The men’s doubles team of Montreal’s Juan Carlos Augilar and Ontario’s Justin Boulais advanced with a 3-6, 7-6(3), 10-7 triumph over Americans George Goldhoff and Alfredo Perez. That moved the Canucks into the semifinals.
On the women’s side, Ontario’s Kayla Cross is also in the semis after she and partner Justina Mikulskyte, of Lithuania, bounced Americans Carmen and Ivana Corley 6-3, 2-6, 10-7 in the quarters. Cross and Mikulskyte now take on American Hanna Chang and Katarina Jokic for a chance to reach the final.
Diallo, of Montreal, teamed up with Belgium’s Zizou Bergs to face Toronto’s Kelsey Stevenson and Great Britain’s Scott Duncan in Thursday’s late men’s doubles action.
Also scheduled late Thursday was Calgary’s Alexia Jacobs and Regina’s Teah Chavez partnering against Grey and countrywoman Eden Silva in another women’s doubles quarterfinal.
Earlier Thursday in women’s singles action, home-towner Jacobs was downed 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(4) in a nail-biter with American Liv Hovde.
The tournament’s No. 1 seed on the women’s side, Toronto’s Katherine Sebov, was also eliminated, dropping a tight one 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(3) to American Dalayna Hewitt.
Friday’s Day 6 action begins at 10 a.m. at the ATC.
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