Mboko, Andreescu, Auger-Aliassime, Diallo Make…

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Canadian tennis was on full display in the early rounds of the WTA 500 event in Tokyo and ATP 500 in Basel, although perhaps it would have been nicer for the Canucks to be in the spotlight later in the tournament.

When the draws were released for the two events, Canadian fans probably did not know whether to laugh or cry. Both tournaments featured first-round clashes between compatriots from the Great White North.

What were the odds?

In Tokyo, the most recent two Canadians to win the singles title on home soil at the National Bank Open, 2019 Toronto champion Bianca Andreescu and 2025 Montreal champion Victoria Mboko, faced off on Tuesday in the first round. Then on Wednesday, a pair of Montrealers, Félix Auger-Aliassime and Gabriel Diallo, did battle in Basel.

Having to play a compatriot can be a bit of an odd thing, especially for Canadians given there are only a handful regularly in the draws on the main tours. And having to play someone you know well and admire can make a match that much more challenging.

“It was really unexpected to see in the draw that I was going to play Bianca,” said Mboko. “It didn't make me feel good at the start. But then again, it's still a match at the end of the day and I wanted to do well for myself and focus on what I needed to do to play my best tennis today. I hated to see Bianca on the other side of the net”

She did play her best. Mboko defeated her compatriot 6-3, 6-3 for her first match win since the Montreal final in August.

“It's definitely challenging when you get two Canadians to play each other, but that's just the sport. I try not to necessarily put so much importance on it," said Andreescu after the match. “Of course, I'm playing a Canadian. I want to do well. But I try to take it like any other match and every match is important.”

Despite a loss, Andreescu was very positive at the end of the day. She approached the net with a smile and gave her young countrywoman a big hug. In her post-match interview, she heaped praise on Mboko.

“I thought I put up a decent fight. She was just the better player today. And she played well. She executed everything she had to. For me, it's just a few decisions that could have made a big difference in this match. But I'm happy for her. She's playing so good. I'm so, so happy for her.”

Just to add to the strangeness of the draw in Tokyo, Andreescu and Mboko had to share the court twice on Tuesday. A few hours after their singles clash, the two were on the same side of the net, pairing up in the doubles for their first-round match.

If there was any awkwardness after having played each other earlier in the day, the two buried it quickly and delivered a 6-7(4), 6-1, 10-7 win over Emiliana Arango and Zeynep Sonmez to advance.

“Only in tennis, man. Only in tennis,” said Andreescu with a laugh when asked about having to play doubles with the player who beat her earlier in the day.

“It's definitely weird because you try to get into a different mindset, especially if you're the one that lost. And obviously for her, it's not easy too, because I'm sure she wants to see me do well as well. But that's just the name of the game. You just have to regroup.”

And regroup they did. Andreescu, who had only played 57 WTA Tour doubles matches heading into Tokyo, was very happy with the way they played, saying, “I felt like our chemistry was amazing. It's our first time playing together, so the more we're going to play together, which I hope we can, I think we can make a great team.”

Andreescu is just six years older than Mboko, but in sports, that’s a huge age gap. Spending time together on the doubles court in Tokyo is an opportunity the 18-year-old is soaking up.

“Bianca has a really chill persona about her, and she's super positive, especially when I play doubles with her,” said Mboko after the doubles win. “I think that really helped me a lot today as well in the doubles. She's very knowledgeable and I can learn a lot from her. So I think being spending a lot of time with her in this tournament can definitely help with my personal growth as well.”

Mboko backed up the singles win over Andreescu with a dominant 6-1, 6-1 victory over Eva Lys in under an hour to reach the quarter-finals in Tokyo.

On Wednesday, it was Auger-Aliassime and Diallo’s turn to face off on the other side of the world in Basel.

It was the first meeting in an ATP Tour match between the pair, but this was hardly an unfamiliar matchup. Both men hail from Montreal, they played often growing up, and have been teammates many times in Davis Cup competition, including both being members of the 2022 championship team.

“Obviously, it's not easy to play someone as close as Félix. We grew up together and we have an amazing relationship,” said Diallo on Wednesday after the match in Basel. “He helped a lot, especially when I was transitioning from college to the pros. It was actually quite nice that we got to play each other on the biggest stages, from all the times we practiced together, and I was very grateful for it to share this moment with him.”

“It's not easy. It's quite awkward, actually,” confessed Auger-Aliassime. “At the same time, I think we can be proud of putting Canadian tennis on the map, playing each other at a high level.”

Auger-Aliassime won the match 6-2, 7-5.

“Now [Gabriel] has improved so much and he deserves to be among the best players in the world. But when you have to face each other and try to beat each other, it can be a bit awkward and stressful. So it wasn't the nicest feeling. But he was professional and tried to win.”

Despite it being a first meeting in a tour match, their personal history meant the pair were already very familiar with each other’s games. Both said after the match that their preparation was really no different than other match, although Auger-Aliassime did elaborate a bit, saying, “You try to focus on yourself. I cannot focus on much else than my preparation, physically, mentally, tennis wise. Obviously, we know each other well, so it's easy to know our strengths and weaknesses, but it's about execution and who's going to be able to play the best on the given day.”

Auger-Aliassime is only 13 months older than his fellow Montrealer but has been on tour far longer, having turned pro in 2017. Diallo went the college route, only going professional in 2023. As a result, Auger-Aliassime played more of a mentor role than one might expect given their proximity in age.

“[He’s] a huge influence. Without him, I don’t know if I would be the player I am and that I hope to become,” said Diallo of Auger-Aliassime. “He and his father helped me a lot before I went to college and he helped me in my transition to the pros. He is one of my closest friends.”

As the mentor figure, Auger-Aliassime showed pride when asked about how Diallo has evolved as a pro.

“It’s a remarkable evolution. There were times when I think some people didn’t believe in him, but I think he always believed in himself,” said Auger-Aliassime. “There were people around him who believed in him. And now he’s proving to everyone that he belongs among the best. So it’s amazing. It’s a great story of proving to people who don’t believe in you that you deserve your place among the best.”

If Diallo, who is currently ranked No. 41, can finish the season inside the Top 50, it would be the first time that three Canadian men would be ranked inside the ATP Top 50 in the year-end rankings, joining Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov.

Feature Photo : Robert Prange/WTA