Sports’ shortest offseason is already over and Canada’s top tennis players wasted no time in getting their 2026 seasons underway. Six Canucks contested their first matches last week on the main tours alone, including at the United Cup.
But while the season was getting started for most, a career officially came to an end for an icon.
Here’s what you need to know.
In Case You Missed It: Belgium a Thorn in Canada’s Side
A busy schedule kicked off the 2026 tennis season last week, with multiple events taking place on both tours as well as the United Cup in Australia, where Canada was competing.
Despite being the second seeds, as one of only two countries with two Top 20 singles players on their roster, Canada was once again unable to get out of the group stage. Led by Victoria Mboko and Félix Auger-Aliassime, the Canucks opened the tournament with a 3-0 win over China but were then surprised 3-0 by Belgium in their second tie, ultimately finishing second in Group B and failing to make it to the knockout stage as one of the best second-place teams.
CLICK HERE for more details about the United Cup.
Three Canadians were competing in regular tour events to start 2026.
Gabriel Diallo got off to a solid start in the new year, delivering the best run of his career in doubles last week at the ATP 250 in Hong Kong. He reached his first tour-level semifinal with Coleman Wong. The Montrealer had lost to Wong in the second round of singles after having beaten Jesper de Jong in round one.
Leylah Annie Fernandez opened her year in Brisbane but was beaten in her opening match by Dayana Yastremska. Denis Shapovalov also lost his opening match in the Brisbane men’s draw, falling to Raphael Collignon.
In off-court news, Canadian tennis legend Milos Raonic formally announced his retirement on Sunday night. The former world No. 3, eight-time ATP Tour titlist, and 2016 Wimbledon runner-up had last played a sanctioned match in July 2024 at the Summer Olympics in Paris. His final tour-level win came a month earlier at the Queen’s Club, where he set the ATP Tour record for most aces in a best-of-three match with 47.
CLICK HERE to read more about Raonic’s retirement.
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What to Watch: Eyes on Adelaide
All of the Canadians looking to get some last-minute preparation ahead of the Australian Open will be competing this week at the Adelaide International.
On the WTA 500 side, Victoria Mboko, seeded eighth, is already off and running after a three-set comeback win over Beatriz Haddad Maia on Monday (Sunday night in Canada). She will face Anna Kalinskaya next with reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys potentially awaiting in the quarter-finals.
Leylah Annie Fernandez will have a tough start, getting drawn against No. 9 seed Diana Shnaider. If she pulls the upset, the Lavalloise could get a shot at revenge against Yastremska if the Ukrainian beats Katerina Siniakova. No. 6 seed Emma Navarro is her projected quarter-final opponent.
Read also: Who can be 2026's Mboko, Boisson?
Gabriel Diallo is the lone Canadian man competing in Adelaide, a 250 event. He faces off with Andrea Vavassori in the first round, with No. 7 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas his potential second-round opponent. Diallo is in the bottom quarter of the draw with No. 2 seed Tommy Paul.
Under the Radar: Canadians in Australian Open Qualies
Three Canadians will be looking to join the five who received direct entry into the main draw of the first Grand Slam event of the season, the Australian Open, as qualifying is underway in Melbourne.
Carson Branstine and Marina Stakusic will be looking to make their Australian Open debuts by getting through qualifying. Stakusic, the 17th seed, has already taken the first step, defeating Nuria Parrizas Diaz in straight sets in her opening match. She will meet Teodora Kostovic in the second round, with either No. 9 seed Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva or Lin Zhu waiting in the final round should she advance.
Branstine is looking to qualify for her second Grand Slam main draw after getting through qualifying at Wimbledon last summer. She will kick off her bid against Astra Sharma and has No. 24 seed Katarzyna Kawa and No. 8 Aliaksandra Sasnovich in her path.
Cadence Brace and Kayla Cross were both competing in Australian Open qualifying for the first time but lost their opening matches.
Read also: Atmane and other men to watch in 2026
Liam Draxl is the only Canadian man still alive in qualies. He is seeded 20th and will kick off his bid to reach his first Grand Slam main draw against local wildcard Moerani Bouzige. He is in the same section of the draw as No. 6 seed Mackenzie McDonald, who reached the fourth round of the main draw in Melbourne back in 2021. Draxl and McDonald could meet in the final round of qualifying.
Alexis Galarneau was the other Canadian man competing in qualifying but lost his opening match against Nishesh Basavareddy.
One notable Canadian who is not making the trip to Melbourne this year is Bianca Andreescu. The former US Open champion is staying in North America and kicking off her season this week at an ITF W35 event in Bradenton, Florida.
You can follow the Canadians in action every week here.
Feature Photo : Andrew Eichenholz/ATP Tour
