“If the good players want to go all the way, they have to win their matches. Me, I have no problem with the results, whatever they are. »
Posted at 2:54 p.m.
This is the answer of Eugène Lapierre, director of the National Bank Open, when asked if he is disappointed to have seen the first three seeds fall in their first duel on the center court of the IGA stadium.
Ultimately, we can make as many predictions as we want before a tournament, the fact is that anything can happen.
“When I arrive at the start of the tournament, I always say: ‘the table is set, now we have nothing more to do with it. It’s up to the athletes and sometimes the temperature to tell us how it’s going to go, but don’t worry, there are always plenty of stories, ”explains Mr. Lapierre before adding that “there are had, once again, plenty of stories.
PHOTO ANDRE PICHETTE, PRESS ARCHIVES
The director of the National Bank Open, Eugène Lapierre
Nick Kyrgios, who defeated first seed Daniil Medvedev, proved to be a crowd favorite until he was knocked out by Hubert Hukacz in the quarter-finals. Britain’s Jack Draper, 82e in the world, surprised everyone by ousting Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets.
“It’s not nothing, that! he throws. [Jack Draper] is a new star on the circuit. »
“There are a number of favorites who do not pass, but that means that there are those who beat them,” he recalls.
Mr. Lapierre affirms that the sale of tickets did not suffer from the table, which quickly became less interesting for a certain category of amateurs. The objectives have also been “largely” exceeded, he notes.
“Me, I was disappointed on [Carlos] Alcaraz. I wish he had continued. For the rest, I’ll tell you, I like seeing good tennis and seeing the best players win the match on the court. It’s sports. If we just wanted to have the right players, we would only invite eight players and that’s it. But no. That’s competition. »
“I think fans kind of understand how it goes. They’re going to enjoy some good tennis over the weekend, that’s for sure,” he told The Press before Saturday’s semi-finals.
Quebec history
In Montreal, all eyes were mainly on Félix Auger-Aliassime, one of only two Quebecers.
Everyone was on fire. It’s as if we felt a tension to be behind Felix the whole tournament.
Eugène Lapierre, director of the National Bank Open
The 22-year-old started with a more difficult first run, before opening the machine and defeating the Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka in the first round. He then delivered a flawless performance, knocking out Britain’s Cameron Norrie in a quick 1 hour 12 minute match. He then became the first Quebecer of the modern era to reach the quarter-finals of the Montreal tournament.
Auger-Aliassime however collapsed the following day, in front of the Norwegian Casper Ruud, seeded fourth.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Felix Auger-Aliassime
“It’s his best performance here in Montreal,” said Mr. Lapierre. I feel like it’s going to get better over the years, every time he comes back. »
” It’s funny, [vendredi] in the evening, we had a completely full stadium. It was an incredible match between Daniel Evans and Tommy Paul. People were applauding, but I felt that there was a tension that had gone down. We came to enjoy good tennis and all that. »
This is what we are going to live during the weekend. These are players that we know perhaps a little less, that people will get to know.
Eugène Lapierre, director of the National Bank Open
Nevertheless, the presence of Auger-Aliassime, like those of Eugenie Bouchard or Milos Raonic in the past, or Vasek Pospisil, Denis Shapovalov, Bianca Andreescu and Leylah Fernandez this year, creates a wave of enthusiasm for the tennis in Quebec.
“It’s as if now, Canada, Quebec, should have lost its complexes in the face of international tennis and the possibility of bringing out champions,” suggests the director of the OBN.
That, he recalls, is mainly due to the National High Performance Center of Tennis Canada, set up 15 years ago.
“That’s what Louis Borfiga brought us a little bit. He told us: “Canadians have arms and legs like everyone else, so they should be able to win! He proved it, too. I think that’s what it’s for. ””
Character
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Hubert Hurkacz
Eugène Lapierre particularly appreciated his first meeting with the 8e seeded Pole Hubert Hurkacz. “I don’t know him very well, but when he arrived at the start, he walked into the officials’ office, and he was like, oh, you’re the tournament director. I want you to know that I can do anything for the tournament: if you need me to go do something with the young people, or an autograph signing, I’m available! With his big smile. Super nice, I couldn’t believe it! […] It’s part of the little stories that I live throughout the tournament and I hope that fans will enjoy the game. ”