Pospisil Falls to Bagnis in Final Match of Professional Career
Vasek Pospisil put on a valiant effort at the National Bank Open on Sunday but could not overcome qualifier Facundo Bagnis, falling 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in what was the final match of his storied tennis career.
Bagnis moves on to face 30th seed Nuno Borges in the second round.
Following the match, Pospisil walked off to a standing ovation from the fans in Toronto who showed plenty of appreciation for one of the trailblazers of Canadian tennis.
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It was a mixed bag for the Canadian early in the first set. Pospisil started strong on serve, drilling three aces in his first two service games but committed nine unforced errors and three double faults, allowing Bagnis the first break of the game to go up 3-2.
After Bagnis held on serve to go up 4-2, Pospisil left with the trainer to undergo off-court treatment, but would return to a raucous ovation from the Sobey’s Stadium crowd. However, the Argentinian would go on to break him for a second time in the set and finish it off on serve to take the first 6-2.
Pospisil found life in the second set when Bagnis had the chance to take control of the match. Down 2-1 and a break, the Vernon, B.C. native broke his opponent at love to get back on serve. The pair would exchange breaks before Pospisil grabbed the momentum with a hold and a break of Bagnis before serving out the set with a pair of aces to win the second 6-3.
Bagnis took the momentum in the deciding set by breaking Pospisil for a fifth time to go up 3-1. Pospisil fought to stay alive down 4-2 in the third but could not break Bagnis to get back into the set. He would hold to extend the match, but Bagnis would hold to take the set and the match.
Pospisil began his career on the ATP Tour 18 years ago and became one of the most important tennis players in Canadian history. His career is highlighted by a men’s doubles title at Wimbledon alongside partner Jack Sock in 2014, when they upset the 13-time major champions Bob and Mike Bryan. He remains the most recent Canadian man to win a major title
He leaves the sport with 21 singles titles on the ATP Challenger Tour and seven ATP Tour-level doubles titles, reaching a career-high singles rank of 25 in 2014 and a career-high doubles rank of No. 4 in 2015.
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-Jonathan Chan
Arseneault Scores First ATP Tour Victory in Debut
Welcome to the ATP Tour, Nicolas Arseneault!
The 18-year-old Canadian wildcard won his first match in an ATP Tour main draw on Tuesday at the National Bank Open in Toronto, defeating French qualifier Valentin Royer in straight sets.
Despite it being his tour-level debut up against a player who competed at both Roland-Garros and Wimbledon in the main draw, Arseneault was the more composed of the two. He looked calm and loose throughout, despite the constant momentum swings, to earn a 6-3, 7-6(4) victory.
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Arseneault found himself facing adversity very early in his first match on the ATP Tour. He was broken in two of his first three service games, including the opening game of the match, but each time he was able to respond, breaking back in the ensuing game.
After being broken to go down 2-3, the 18-year-old settled down and took control, reeling off six games in a row to take the set and go up a break in the second.
The serve was coming up clutch for Arseneault in key moments. Serving for the first set, he drilled an ace to get back to 30-all and another to save a break point, going on to hold.
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In the opening game of the second set, the teen pulled out a pair of spectacular passing shots, one to go up love-40 and the other to break on the third break point, on his way to a quick 2-0 lead. However, the second set was the inverse of the first, with Arseneault twice leading by a break only for Royer to draw back even.
Arseneault saved a set point on his own serve at 4-5, eventually extending the set to a tiebreak. In the end, just one point made the difference. A minibreak for the Canadian to go up 5-3 was the only point to go to the returner and when it came time for Arseneault to serve out the match, he wrapped it up by claiming his last two service points.
His reward for the breakthrough victory is a date with the defending champion Alexei Popyrin.
-Pete Borkowski
