Monday Digest: Andreescu Beats Fernandez for WTA 125 Catalonia Doubles Title

By Pete Borkowski

May 5, 2025

Bianca WTA 125 Vic

For the first time since the 2019 US Open, Bianca Andreescu lifted a trophy last week. The Canadian won the doubles title at the WTA 125 event in Vic, Spain, defeating her countrywoman Leylah Annie Fernandez in the final.

Andreescu won the title alongside Aldila Sutjiadi. The pair upset the top seeds Anna Danilina and Irina Khromcheva in the semifinals in three sets before defeating Fernandez and Lulu Sun 6-2, 6-4 in the final. 

It’s the biggest doubles title of Andreescu’s career and her first since winning the Gatineau Challenger, an ITF W25, in 2018. It is her first title of any kind, singles or doubles at any level, since winning the US Open in September 2019. 

Bianca Andreescu 2025 Vic Catalonia Open

Aldila Sutjiadi and Bianca Andreescu. Photo : @cataloniaopen

The victory for Andreescu at Fernandez’s expense came in a week where lots of big names who had been eliminated early from the Madrid Open were competing in lower-level events. But one Canadian was still shining in the Spanish capital. 

Here’s what you need to know. 

Under the Radar: Auger-Aliassime's Tough Run Continues, Victory for Boulais 

Andreescu and Fernandez also competed in singles at the WTA 125 event in Vic, but did not have the same good results.  

Fernandez was the top seed but lost in the second round to Aliaksandra Sasnovich. Andreescu lost in round one to fourth seed Kimberly Birrell. 

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Félix Auger-Aliassime's struggles on clay in 2025 carried down to the ATP Challenger Tour last week as he lost his opening match at an event in Estoril, Portugal, to world No. 237 Andrea Pellegrino. Like Fernandez, Auger-Aliassime was the top seed. He has yet to win a match on clay in 2025 and has not won a match at all since Miami in mid-March. 

Justin Boulais Nottingham

Andres Martin and Justin Boulais

Justin Boulais was the other Canadian titlist last week, scoring the ITF M25 doubles title in Nottingham alongside American Andres Martin. The pair lost just one set on their way to the title, in their hard-fought quarter-final with Finn Murgett and James Story which the North American tandem won 11-9 in the match tiebreak. They defeated another all-British pair, Oliver Bonding and Toby Samuel, 6-3, 6-2, in the final. 

It is Boulais’ fourth professional doubles title and second of the year. He also reached the semifinals of the singles in Nottingham as a qualifier. 

In Case You Missed It: Diallo’s Madrid Magic 

Gabriel Diallo was the breakout star for Canada at the Mutua Madrid Open last week, taking advantage of a lucky loser to reach his first Masters 1000 quarter-final.  

After getting a few breaks to go his way in the first week of the event, the Montrealer shone in week two. He edged out former Indian Wells champion Cameron Norrie to reach the fourth round of a big event for the first time in his career and then scored his biggest win by ranking, taking out world No. 16 Grigor Dimitrov to reach the last eight. 

His run finally came to an end at the hands of Lorenzo Musetti in the quarter-finals. As a result his performance in Madrid, Diallo jumped 24 spots in the rankings to a new career-high of No. 54. 

Denis Shapovalov also made it to the second week of Madrid but lost in the third round to Alex de Minaur. The other Canadians all lost in the first week. 

Click here for more news and results from the ATP and WTA Tours. 

What to Watch: On to Rome 

The road to Roland-Garros is making its last major stop this week as the tours descend on Rome for the Internazionali BNL D’Italia, the last 1000 event on clay of the year. There are at least five Canadians expected to compete in singles. 

Gabriel Diallo will look to carry his momentum from Spain to Italy this week as he did not need to play in qualifying (or receive a lucky loser) to get into the main draw of a 1000 event for the first time in his career. The Canadian will face Marcos Giron in the first round with No. 4 seed Taylor Fritz looming in round two. Should he upset the American, he could face No. 30 Hubert Hurkacz in round three. 

Félix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov are both seeded and have first-round byes. Auger-Aliassime, the 26th seed, is still in search of his first win on clay in 2025 and will try to get it against either Nuno Borges or a qualifier. No. 7 seed Alex de Minaur is his projected third-round opponent. 

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27th seed Shapovalov will play either a qualifier or Damir Dzumhur after his bye. He could meet world No. 2 Alexander Zverev in the third round.

Leylah Annie Fernandez is seeded No. 24 on the women’s side. She will play either a qualifier or Tyra Grant in the second round. No. 14 seed Daria Kasatkina is in line for a third-round clash. 

Bianca Andreescu is the last Canadian with direct entry to the Rome main draw. She will play Federica Urgesi in round one for the right to face 20th seed Donna Vekic in the second round. Just like Madrid, Elena Rybakina looms in Andreescu’s path, this time in the third round. 

Victoria Mboko has a chance to make it three Canadian women in the singles draw. She won her opening qualifying match over Cristina Busca on Monday and will play Kamilla Rakhimova for a spot in the main draw.  

Marina Stakusic lost in the first round of qualifying to Emiliana Arango.  

You can follow the Canadians in action every weekhere. 

Feature Photo : @biancaandreescu_