Monday Digest: Shaw Scores Big in Japan

Rob Shaw has been one of the most consistent winners for Canada in the professional tennis landscape for a decade and he continued to rake in the trophies last week in Japan.

Since winning his first ITF title in 2014, the Canadian has won at least two titles every non-COVID-restricted year, scoring his second win of the season last week.

Here’s what you need to know.

Under the Radar: Shaw’s Super Result in Japan

Just four months into the season and Rob Shaw has already made it three years in a row with multiple titles on the ITF Tour.

Last week, he and partner Heath Davidson lifted their second trophy of the year, this time at the Japan Open. It is the first ITF Super Series title of the Canadian’s career out of his 25 ITF doubles wins.

Shaw and Davidson dominated the field in Japan, never losing more than two games in a set and dropping a total of just eight games on their way to the title. They claimed the trophy with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Andrew Bogdanov and David Wagner in the final.

Stacey Fung nearly joined Shaw in the winner’s circle in Japan, reaching the W35 Osaka final, but lost in three sets to Sayaka Ishii.

On the ATP Challenger Tour last week, three members of the Canadian Davis Cup team reached quarter-finals: Gabriel Diallo in Sarasota, Florida, Alexis Galarneau and Vasek Pospisil in Cuernavaca, Mexico.

Galarneau has been playing well of late in Mexico and will look to keep it going this week in Acapulco.

The ITF Wheelchair Tour passes through Ontario this week, with a Futures event in Markham.

In Case You Missed It: Monte-Carlo Miss

With Canada getting to skip the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers as reigning champions and a Masters 1000 event dominating the ATP calendar, it was a quiet week for the Canadians at the top levels of the game last week.

Only Félix Auger-Aliassime was competing last week at the Monte-Carlo Masters. He opened his campaign with a win over Luca Nardi, but despite catching a break and avoiding his second-round clash with Carlos Alcaraz due to the Spaniard’s arm injury, he was beaten in round two anyway by lucky loser Lorenzo Sonego.

Click here for more news from the tours.

What to Watch: Shapovalov Arrives in Europe

This week on the ATP Tour, Denis Shapovalov, who on Monday celebrates his 25th birthday, will contest his first event on the European clay in 2024 at the Tiriac Open in Bucharest, Romania.

Shapovalov kicks off his campaign against Corentin Moutet and will face either Stan Wawrinka or No. 7 seed Nuno Borges in the second round. Second seed Tallon Griekspoor looms in the quarter-finals.

Alejandro Tabilo or Lorenzo Sonego are potential seeded semifinal opponents for the Canadian, with top seed Francisco Cerundolo on the top other half of the draw.

Read also: Shapovalov – 2024 Edition

Félix Auger-Aliassime is competing at the other ATP 250 event this week in Munich, Germany. He is seeded fifth and will face Maximilian Marterer in the first round.

The Canadian is in the same quarter as No. 4 seed Jan-Lennard Struff and could face second seed Holger Rune in the semifinals.

You can follow the Canadians in action every week here. 

Written By

Pete Borkowski