Arseneault Shines as Canadian Players Gather in Montréal

Montréal, Canada — Eleven Canadian tennis players took center stage on the first day of the Omnium Banque Nationale presented by Rogers, including Ariana Arseneault, who secured her spot in the main draw after an opponent withdrew. The 23-year-old from Canada won her qualifying match against Australia’s Destanee Aiava with a score of 6-3, 7-6(5).

Arseneault’s victory marks her debut in a WTA 1000 tournament in front of her home crowd. She now faces Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, in the first round of the main event. Other Canadians moving forward include Laura Siegemund, Kamilla Rakhimova, and Whitney Osuigwe.

In a special event, Erin Ambrose, Alexandra Labelle, and Catherine Daoust of the Montréal Victory participated in a fun ball hockey game against notable WTA players like Mirra Andreeva and Daria Kasatkina, drawing a large crowd.

Additionally, Bianca Andreescu engaged with local children during a yoga session as part of the IGA Family Weekend, showcasing the event’s community spirit. She joined Coco Gauff in the main draw announcement earlier in the day, where excitement was palpable.

The evening concluded with a glamorous celebration at the Fairmont Le Reine Elizabeth hotel, where athletes mingled on the red carpet.

Meanwhile, Marina Stakusic faced a challenging match. Despite winning the first set against Jaqueline Cristian, she fell 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 after Cristian raised her performance significantly.

Stakusic initially led strong, gaining an early break, but Cristian quickly adjusted, causing her to falter. Cristian will now meet 23rd-ranked Linda Noskova in the next round.

Victoria Mboko, another young talent, impressed by defeating Australian Kimberly Birrell in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3, becoming the first Canadian to advance in the tournament.

Rebecca Marino also had success, rallying back from a slow start to defeat Elsa Jacquemot, 7-6(2), 6-1. She will next compete against eighth-seed Emma Navarro.

As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Canadian players as they aim to showcase their skills at this prestigious event in Montréal.