Photo: Peter Figura
This past week, the Ontario Racquet Club in Mississauga hosted the 2022 edition of the U18 Fischer Outdoor Junior Nationals. The top up-and-coming teens from across Canada battled for a shot at the National title. In the end, it was Saskatchewan native Keegan Rice from the boy’s draw and Albertan Martyna Ostrzygalo from the girl’s division who claimed the titles in singles. Ostrzygalo in particular had an incredible performance, winning both the singles and doubles trophies (alongside partner Sarah L’Allier of Quebec).
The girl’s singles final was a battle between No. 2 seed Ostrzygalo and tournament top-seed Naomi Xu of Quebec. Both athletes had picture-perfect runs to the final – each having not dropped a set in the rounds leading up to the championship match. Their final bout came down to the wire, as they both claimed a set and needed a third set tiebreak to determine the winner. It was Ostrzygalo who came out on top, winning over Xu 0-6, 6-0, 7-6. Ostrzygalo now leads her head-to-head with Xu 4-0.
In the boys’ singles final it was 16-year-old Rice of Saskatchewan who upset No. 3 seed Liam Drover-Mattinen of Newfoundland. Rice, the tournament’s fifth seed, had a fantastic week in Mississauga, soaring past Drover-Mattinen 6-2, 6-3 to claim the U18 Fischer Outdoor Junior National title.
In doubles on the girl’s side of the draw, No. 1 seeds Ostrzygalo and L’Allier defeated No. 2 seeds Addison Yang Comiskey and Xu (QC), 6-4, 6-3, to claim the doubles title. On the boy’s side, No. 1 seeds Drover-Mattinen and partner Stefan Simeunovic (ON) ousted No. 3 seeds Aleksandar Mitric (ON) and Sasha Rozin (ON), 6-3, 6-2. Earlier in the year, the pair had also won the Fischer Indoor Junior Nationals.
