Canada's top two men's players have had very different experiences in Asia this fall through the early weeks of the swing, but they have something in common heading into the Masters 1000 event in Shanghai. Both are looking for a turnaround after a disappointing result, for very different reasons, in their respective 500 events last week.
Here's what you need to know.
In Case You Missed It: Disappointing Ending for Shapovalov in Tokyo
The Asian swing has gotten off to a strong start for Denis Shapovalov, but there are now some question marks around him after a disappointing end to his campaign in Tokyo.
After reaching the semifinals of Chengdu the week prior, the Richmond Hillian continued to deliver, reaching the quarter-finals of the ATP 500 event in Japan with a straight-set win over Sho Shimabukuro and a three-set win over Alejandro Tabilo.
In the quarters, he was playing well against top seed Carlos Alcaraz, pushing the seven-time major champion to a tiebreak in the first set. However, after the Spaniard took it and went up 2-1 in the second, Shapovalov had to retire with a hip injury.
Félix Auger-Aliassime kicked off his Asian swing last week at the ATP 500 event in Beijing but did not have nearly as good a start as his countryman, falling in the first round to Karen Khachanov in straight sets.
Leylah Annie Fernandez was also arriving at her event last week, the WTA 1000 in Beijing, with momentum after claiming her first title of the season the week prior in Singapore but was unable to carry it over. The Lavalloise was stunned in her opening match by Kamilla Rakhimova in three sets.
Gabriela Dabrowski got a win in her opening match in Beijing alongside Luisa Stefani. The second seeds at the WTA 1000 event dispatched Qianhui Tang and Yifan Xu in straight sets.
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What to Watch: Men's Swing Peaks in Shanghai
The Asian swing on the ATP side is much shorter than the WTA and it is already reaching its pinnacle this week with the Masters 1000 event in Shanghai. Félix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov are both competing.
Auger-Aliassime, who is contesting his first event with new coach Ivan Ljubicic this week, will look to refind his form after early losses at his last three regular tour events. He is seeded fourth and, after a bye, will open against either Camilo Ugo Carabelli or a qualifier. He could meet No. 29 seed Alejandro Tabilo in the third round. His projected opponents down the line include No. 14 Learner Tien in the fourth round and No. 8 Arthur Fils in the quarter-finals.
Shapovalov is unseeded and will look to bounce back from his hip injury in Tokyo in the first round against Cameron Norrie. The pair faced off earlier this year in the Los Cabos semis, with the Canadian winning in three sets.
If he repeats the feat, Shapovalov would meet No. 28 Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the second round. A win there would likely set up a clash with No. 5 seed Daniil Medvedev in the third round.
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Both Canadians are in the bottom half of the draw with second seed Carlos Alcaraz. Shapovalov could get a rematch with the Spaniard in the quarter-finals, while Auger-Aliassime could meet him in the semis.
The Canadian contingent in Shanghai has a chance to grow, as Liam Draxl is into the final round of qualifying after upsetting fourth seed Hugo Gaston in straight sets. He meets No. 16 seed Nikoloz Basilashvili for a spot in the main draw.
Beijing action continues this week on the WTA side, with Gabriela Dabrowski looking to add another 1000 to her resume in 2026. She and Luisa Stefani face Ulrikke Eikeri and Quinn Gleason next. Their projected quarter-final opponents are No. 8 seeds Sara Errani and Jasmina Paolini, with fourth seeds Cristina Busca and Nicole Melichar-Martinez and sixth seeds Elise Mertens and Diana Shnaider among possible semifinal opponents.
Under the Radar:
Alexander Rozin delivered the strongest results for Canada on the World Tennis Tour last week at a M15 event in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The 21-year-old was the lone Canuck to reach a final last week, getting to the title match in doubles alongside Alejandro Arcila of Colombia.
The pair narrowly avoided exiting in the first round, taking a match tiebreak to advance to the quarter-finals where they got a walkover. A straight-set win in the semis sent them to the final, but there they were bested by Jerry Roddick and Togan Tokac.
Rozin also made the singles semifinals, taking out the fourth and seventh seeds on his way to the final four, where he lost to top seed Theo Papamalamis.
This week is a busy one for the Canadians around the world.
There are large contingents of Canucks playing at a number of events, including the W50 in Lexington, South Carolina, the W50/M15 in Heraklion, Greece, the W35 in Las Vegas, and the W35/M15 in Monastir, Tunisia.
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Canada is also hosting a pair of WT wheelchair events on the east coast. Tuesday to Thursday, there is a tournament being held in Bedford, NS, while the Sure Grip International Wheelchair Tennis Open gets underway on Saturday in Fredericton, NB.
Bianca Andreescu is back in action this week at the WTA 125 event in Samsun, Turkey.
You can follow the Canadians in action every week here.
Feature Photo: Martin Sidorjak
