Photo: Tyler Anderson – Tennis Canada
He also earns the titles of Most Improved Male Player of the Year and Male Singles player of the year
On Wednesday, Tennis Canada announced that Félix Auger-Aliassime earned three Tennis Canada Excellence Awards: Male Player of the Year, Male Singles Player of the Year and Most Improved Male Player of the Year. The other Excellence Awards in men’s tennis went to Denis Shapovalov, Male Doubles Player of the Year, and Jaden Weekes, Male Junior Player of the Year.
“Félix, Denis and Jaden had excellent seasons, and we are very pleased to honour them today,” said Michael Downey, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tennis Canada. “In the challenging conditions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, all three found ways to stand out and deliver exceptional performances. Félix—the first Canadian to reach the men’s semifinal of the US Open—pursued his meteoric ascent, rising to a career-high World No.10. Denis was the first player since Milos Raonic to reach for the semifinals of Wimbledon before falling to World No.1 Novak Djokovic. Finally, on the junior circuit, Jaden showed us all that he is one of the brightest stars among the new generation of players.”
At only 21 years old, Félix Auger-Aliassime is Tennis Canada’s Male Player of the Year and Male Singles Player of the Year for the first time in his career and the Most Improved Male Player of the Year for the second. The Quebecer started out the season at No.21 and ended it as the World No.11 after moving up to a career high at No.10. In addition to his brilliant run at Flushing Meadows, he competed in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon and two ATP finals (Stuttgart and Melbourne 2). He closed out the year with a record of 38 wins and 24 losses that includes notable victories over Top 10 players (No.6 Alexander Zverev, No.8 Matteo Berrettini, No.8 Roger Federer and No.10 Diego Schwartzman).
In addition to his remarkable season in singles, which he ended as World No.14 after climbing as high as No.10 in July and August, Denis Shapovalov made his mark in doubles and secured his third consecutive title of MaleDoubles Player of the Year. With his long-time partner Rohan Bopanna, the Ontarian competed in the quarterfinals of two Masters 1000 events (Madrid and Indian Wells) and the semifinals of the ATP 250 St. Petersburg Open.
On the junior circuit, Jaden Weekes of Lasalle, Québec, had a very successful season. He posted a record of 23 wins and 11 losses (including an impressive 20–4 record on hard courts) and won two Grade 3 titles this year, in Canada (Repentigny, Québec) and Israel (Ramat Hasharon). His performances gave him a tremendous boost in the rankings from No.593 to No.81.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Year | Male Player of the Year | Female Player of the Year |
1982 | Réjean Genois | Marjorie Blackwood |
1983 | Glenn Michibata | Carling Bassett |
1984 | Martin Wostenholme | Carling Bassett |
1985 | Glenn Michibata | Carling Bassett |
1986 | Andrew Sznajder | Helen Kelesi |
1987 | Grant Connell | Helen Kelesi |
1988 | Andrew Sznajder | Jill Hetherington |
1989 | Andrew Sznajder | Helen Kelesi |
1990 | Grant Connell | Helen Kelesi |
1991 | Grant Connell | Patricia Hy |
1992 | Grant Connell | Patricia Hy |
1993 | Greg Rusedski | Patricia Hy |
1994 | Sébastien Lareau | Jana Nejedly |
1995 | Grant Connell | Patricia Hy-Boulais |
1996 | Sébastien Lareau | Patricia Hy-Boulais |
1997 | Daniel Nestor | Patricia Hy-Boulais |
1998 | No record of award | No record of award |
1999 | No record of award | No record of award |
2000 | Daniel Nestor and Sébastien Lareau | Sonya Jeyaseelan |
2001 | Daniel Nestor | Jana Nejedly |
2002 | Frédéric Niemeyer | Maureen Drake |
2003 | Daniel Nestor | Maureen Drake |
2004 | Daniel Nestor | Aleksandra Wozniak |
2005 | Daniel Nestor | Stéphanie Dubois |
2006 | Frank Dancevic | Aleksandra Wozniak |
2007 | Daniel Nestor | Stéphanie Dubois |
2008 | Daniel Nestor | Aleksandra Wozniak |
2009 | Daniel Nestor | Aleksandra Wozniak |
2010 | Daniel Nestor | Rebecca Marino |
2011 | Milos Raonic | Rebecca Marino |
2012 | Milos Raonic | Aleksandra Wozniak |
2013 | Milos Raonic | Eugenie Bouchard |
2014 | Milos Raonic | Eugenie Bouchard |
2015 | Milos Raonic | Eugenie Bouchard |
2016 | Milos Raonic | Eugenie Bouchard |
2017 | Denis Shapovalov | Bianca Andreescu |
2018 | Milos Raonic | Eugenie Bouchard |
2019 | Denis Shapovalov | Bianca Andreescu |
2020 | Milos Raonic | Leylah Annie Fernandez |
2021 | Félix Auger-Aliassime | Leylah Annie Fernandez |