Galarneau, Branstine highlight strong Granby field

After exciting action on the Challenger circuit in Winnipeg last week, the tours move back East for tennis in Quebec.

The Championnats Banque Nationale de Granby is underway, with the men competing at the ATP Challenger level event, and the women do battle in the ITF W75.

Find out which players to keep an eye on this week.

Galarneau returns to defend his title

Laval, QC native Alexis Galarneau returns to Granby this week, the site of his breakthrough victory on the circuit. The 25-year-old won his first career ATP Challenger trophy at the event this time last year and is seeded fourth this week.

The talented baseliner often plays his best tennis during the hard-court swing and opens his campaign Tuesday against American Bruno Kuzuhara.

While veteran Vasek Pospisil already made an early exit, his conqueror was 22-year-old countryman Justin Boulais, who is looking to make noise as he begins to focus on the pro circuit. He recently completed his collegiate career at Ohio State, helping the Buckeyes to a semifinals finish at the NCAA Championship.

A Canadian man has won their first ATP Challenger singles title in each of the last two years in Granby.

Several Canadians, including Liam Draxl, Cleeve Harper, Benjamin Sigouin, and Joshua Lapdat are also in the doubles field.

Read more: Auger-Aliassime, Shapovalov, Raonic, Pospisil, Diallo to represent Canada at Davis Cup

Branstine, Fernandez highlight strong women’s event

A deep, talented women’s field is also present in Granby this week.

Former junior Grand Slam doubles champion Carson Branstine is back in Canada as she looks to continue her surge in form. The 23-year-old recently won her first W75 title at the Sumter Open in South Carolina, the fifth ITF singles title of her career.

Bianca Jolie Fernandez, the younger sister of Canadian No. 1 Leylah, is also set to compete, after wrapping up her first collegiate year at UCLA. Along with singles action, the 20-year-old is teaming up with Isabelle Boulais, sister of Justin, in doubles.

Other Canadians include Ariana Arsenault, Jada Bui, Mia Kupres, Kayla Cross, and Stacey Fung.