CANADA OPEN: National Bank Open Aug 1-13, 2026

 Happened to watch TORONTO BLUE JAYS game last night against the PHILLIES. Oh, they changed their blue jacket for red jacket now for home runners. It was TBJ Smith who I saw had a home run and got the red jacket and a red/yellow dragon as prize. Wow! New gimmick for the TBJ eh? lol

They could have won last year! Why they didn't? I don't know. 

DINOSAURS & DRAGONS are becoming a commodity now not only for Halloween but also as "Mascots." Recently, a Dinosaur mascot was having so much fun at Alex Eala's tennis match with McNally in WTA 1000 Canada Open. After winning the Mubadala DC Open as the new Champion, Alex is now playing at the CANADA OPEN, National Bank in Toronto, Ontario with large crowd of Filipino-Canadians who are proud of her representing the Philippines. Another Filipina (Canadian) Leylah Fernandez is expected to win the tournament. But what if the gam e ends up Leylah vs Alex?

WTA 1000 is being held in Toronto, Ontario and the ATP 1000 for men in Montreal, Quebec from August 1-13, 2026. 

Unfortunately, Felix Auger Aliassime had been injured and had to backed out from the event. Shapovalov was injured too first round. Bianca Andreescu was out. Leylah Fernandez from Canada has defeated her opponents and still strong to continue. GOOD LUCK!

VICTORIA MBOKO - TENNIS STAR

 

CONGRATULATIONS! VICTORIA MBOKO's  National Bank Open Champion, Montreal Quebec, Canada.

The new world teen sensation in professional tennis is from Canada!

Photo Image c/o GOOGLE -New York Times

What Are They Up To?

 The most awaited ATP Match between #1 Rank Carlos Alcaraz (6-6-6) vs Denis Shapovalov (1-4-2) came to an end today at the ROLAND GARROS Rolex ATP Tour 2023. 

How in the world, that an unknown inexperienced Fabian Maroszan had defeated Carlos Alacaraz in French Open match? Opsi, sorry, mean in Rome 2023 and a more experienced tennis player Shapovalov has been defeated? Maybe some people are just born lucky! And some people don't know where their luck is. lol

I don't really know tennis much as  who should win or lose but I noticed or has observed that Carlos is more determined, focused and he is not wasting his serving and he is really good in Clay Court. Carlos is only 20 years old and very flexible. While Denis is 24 years old, almost a veteran and was reported that he had a knee and shoulder injury. Why he still plays if he is injured? 

Anyway, so many tennis players are being injured in this safest sports known to man and its good to know that too many of those female tennis players are still playing. Just recently (months ago), Bianca Andreescu was injured, crying out for the excruciating pain and now she's back to the court to fight back. Bianca is the only remaining Canadian tennis player up for grabs. Felix Auger -Aliassime had been in first round match and out because he was injured just the same as other players.  The longest tennis player to have been in remission or rehab for such painful injury was Rafael Nadal, the defending Champion for Roland Garros. Or probably he is just too busy being a new Dad to the newborn baby.That's right! Family first and foremost and that's how wonderful Nadal is to his family and fans.

Zverev from Germany was able to return after months of being absent for the injury that happened while in a match with Nadal last year. There are some tennis players who wont be able to come back to play for their injury are worst than the others. 

Vasek Pospisil is no longer playing tennis. Looks like he is being groomed as a sports commentator at TSN.  ?

Who's who in the next round for Roland Garros ATP Tour 2023: Djokovic, Alcaraz,  and whoever wins tomorrow's match. Good luck!

Australian Heatwave

 The time difference in Australia from Canada made it hard to watch the tennis tournament and the very first tournament was not even shown on Canadian television channels. Good that when AO or Australian Open ATP Tournament finally opened or shown on TV TSN Channels (2 channels) they had the Canadian tennis players playing first ahead of those less popular tennis players. The very first day of AO they had Bianca Andreescu, Felix-Auger Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov. They won the first day, first round of the match. It was hot! The temperature was summer blistering hot for Canadian players. Did you know that over 25 Celsius degrees temperature for weather is more like an inferno hot? That kind of heatwave can cause stroke here in Canada and can spark wildfire. Then the next round the Canadian tennis players had their match again and won but why Auger has to play against Pospisil who is a Canadian player? That's strange. On the second day round for the Canadian players and their opponents suddenly the weather temperature has changed from hot to cold and windy because I think it rained and the game was postponed or canceled for later day or hours? So from hot to cold temp. that could change the situation and outcome of the game. Definitely is. Denis Shapovalov suddenly wore extra clothing, Bianca has to wear her jacket while playing tennis and noticed the audience, the fans, visitors, stayed on their seats feeling cold and good for them some of them brought their sweaters and jackets and maybe some of them have to buy all of a sudden from nearby shops. The sudden change of weather temperature's not in favor for their game in Australia. Looks like...the game is in favor and on the side of Djokovic. Hm, maybe I'm wrong.

So folks, what could it lead to for that sudden change of weather temperature? Hot & cold? It could give you headaches, colds, and less stamina if you are not ready for such drastic temperature change. 

All the Canadian tennis players were out of the AO match after the 3rd round, except Felix-Auger Aliassime. If you can play tennis for 4th to 5th set just like Andy Murray of UK and if you are fanatic fans who can stay at the podium or grandstand for 5 hours under the heat of the sun and dry yourself like a fish then stay. At least you don't need to pay for suntanning bed. By that time of 5 hours watching the sports end, sweltering sweat, you felt the tennis court looking like a blue ocean and two players bathing in their own sweat. Now people smell yourself if you stink like a beef teriyaki or salted dry fish. Opsi, just kidding.

Sports: Tennis

 Usually the ATP Tennis Tournament begins in January 2023 somewhere in Australia. However, an advertisement of a Dallas ATP Tour for February 2023 advances with 3 popular tennis players promoting it: Denis Shapovalov, Tiafoe & Fritz. They have to promote the tour in Australia first, right?

Whatever! With the return of Djokovic, as being accepted or be allowed to play in Australia is more like a highly competitive sports once again. Then add Nick Kyrgios... the dark horse.

Hey, did you know that Shapovalov's record of speed serve had been higher and stronger than before. His highest speed serve > 216 km/hr > during the matches he had with other players. While Fritz had his highest speed serve from 212 km/hr to 222 km/hr. 

Sometimes it is the quality and speed of serving that lead to the tennis player's winning the set and the match.

Year 2023 ATP Tournament will be more exciting because those young players wont waste their time to develop their skills and advance, so be very aware that Holger Rune has an agenda, he wants to be on TOP ONE if not on TOP 5.

With TEAM TENNIS CANADA (Shapovalov, Auger Aliassime, Pospisil, etc) winning the DAVIS WORLD CUP 2022 adds more priority, with principle and determination to achieve higher. Well, let us hope so.

Year 2024 is the long way to go for the OLYMPIC SUMMER GAMES.

This Is What Stranger Things Are

 Just after the Wimbledon 2022 you realized that so many of those high achievers for tennis never made it somehow to the top as their ranks were lowered. Before the Wimbledon 2022 in England, the high ranking tennis player was Novak Djokovic since January 2022. Even if he was banned from Australia, Novak remained the top high ranking #1 ATP Tennis Player ahead of Nadal, Medvedev, Rublev, Zverev, etc. After winning the Wimbledon 2022, just recently first prize, the Grand Slam Champ for Wimbledon 2022! Novak Djokovic is now ranked 7. It's now Danill Medvedev who is the Top #1 High ranking ATP Tennis Player, even if he was banned from Wimbledon this year, together with other Russian tennis players. 

WEIRD or rather STRANGE! Crazy right?

Rafael Nadal who won so much this year is ranked #3 only.

Canadian ATP Tennis player Felix Auger-Aliassime remain on Top #9 on its ATP Ranking, even if he was the first to lose in the match (first round) in Wimbledon 2022.

While Canadian ATP Tennis player Denis Shapovalov who was able to win the first round match in Wimbledon but lose in the 2nd round ranking got him from Top#15 down to #23. Two days ago, Denis was ranked Top #21.

I don't know how they rank or what rankings are and what points are needed to get in to TOP 10 when those who won the Wimbledon Tournament get their ranks lowered. Or could it be that if you play in Wimbledon, your ranks get lowered on certain degree or purpose only known for those who play the tournament in such elite organization. If that's the case better not to play in such org. Because what matter actually is the ATP RANKING.

Nvm. I'm not a tennis player nor do I know what tennis is all about. But if your ranking or your rank was lowered after winning the game or participated in such game then that's demotion! LOL.

Tennis

 This is what we are watching on our TV screen right now...

ROLAND GARROS (Paris , France) ATP 2022 Tournament:

Rafael Nadal ( Spain) vs Thompson (Australian)

Hmm, the only thing that makes me watch Nadal is because he is one of the most fashionable tennis player, he's got good taste in choosing his outfit, the style and color match...he's got style!

True, you have to wear bright colors when it comes to sports especially during the OLYMPIC GAMES. The robotic machines seem to like bright colors.

 Well, he is a really great tennis player despite his age as in he is one of the oldest players in tennis aside from Djokovic, Federer and ? who else? Medvedev. lol

I think when they are about to reach 40 or over 40 years of age they are forced to retire. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Too many younger tennis players and their physique, stronger than the older players. But you know you'll never know for sure because older players have many years of training and their skills are much, much better than those younger players. Also, the older tennis players are more humble, cool and they keep their heads above water. However, if the players keep on exercising and practicing too much before the game event, you are already tired, over fatigue and that's the reason why some players lose the game. Or just that their mind thinking is not on the game and got out of focus or what could be? That player should be handled by psychologist-therapist to get back in shape, mentally. (look at what happened to Osaka).

Anyway, if your game is just the key opener for the game to start and out to open another door then you are probably Obiwan not Darth Vader.

Note: Don't know yet the final result as of now as they battle the game ... But Nadal is in the lead to win.

Update: Nadal won against Thompson