Canadian tennis players Bianca Andreescu and Denis Shapovalov began their grass-court campaigns with defeats at the Libema Open in the Netherlands on Monday. Both players fell in the first round, marking a tough start to the season on the surface.
Andreescu falls to Krejcikova
Andreescu, from Mississauga, Ontario, lost 6-2, 6-4 to Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic. The match lasted just over an hour, with Krejcikova dominating on serve and breaking Andreescu three times. Andreescu struggled to find her rhythm on the grass, committing 25 unforced errors. Krejcikova, a former French Open champion, advanced to the second round with a solid all-around performance.
Shapovalov defeated by Bublik
In the men's draw, Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ontario, fell 7-5, 6-4 to Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan. The match featured powerful serving from both players, but Bublik's aggressive returns and net play proved decisive. Shapovalov, a former Wimbledon semifinalist, could not convert his break opportunities, going 0-for-4 on break points. Bublik will next face either a qualifier or lucky loser in the second round.
Looking ahead
Both Andreescu and Shapovalov will now turn their attention to upcoming grass-court tournaments as they prepare for Wimbledon, which begins on July 1. Andreescu is scheduled to play in Berlin next week, while Shapovalov will compete in Halle. The Libema Open continues through Sunday, with top seeds including Daniil Medvedev and Aryna Sabalenka still in contention.
