Canadian kids aren’t coming…they’re already here

In this day and age when players are better than ever in their 30s and a 37-year-old is No. 4 in the world, it’s a big deal when a teenager is anywhere inside the top 100. Only three, in fact, currently enjoy that distinction.

But two aren’t just in the top 100. Take a look at the updated rankings following the Miami Open and you will find a pair of teens in the top 33. Denis Shapovalov, 19, registers at No. 20 and fellow Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, 18, is up to 33rd.

When 2019 began, Shapovalov had already arrived and Auger-Aliassime was coming. Now they’re both here–and likely to stay.

Auger-Aliassime’s meteoric rise from No. 108 in the world at the beginning of this year has come on the strength of a breakout Golden Swing (a runner-up finish in Rio de Janeiro and a quarterfinal performance in Sao Paulo) followed by a third-round showing in Indian Wells as a wild card (upset 10th-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas) and a semifinal run in Miami as a qualifier. Shapovalov also made it to the final four last week, falling to eventual champion Roger Federer while Auger-Aliassime bowed out at the hands of John Isner in a pair of tiebreakers.

Already hot commodities, the two upstart Canadians are suddenly two of the hottest tickets in tennis. This summer’s Queen’s Club tournament conveniently announced in the middle of the Miami event that Shapovalov, Auger-Aliassime, and Miami quarterfinalist Frances Tiafoe (21 years old) will be part of the field. You can bet on Queen’s Club and other tournaments at some of the best sports betting sites.

“Felix Auger-Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov and Frances Tiafoe are three of the most exciting young players in the sport, and we are thrilled that they have agreed to play the Fever-Tree Championships,” said tournament director Stephen Farrow. “Denis had a great run at The Queen’s Club a couple of years ago, and he told me at the time that I should watch out for his good friend Felix because he is an incredible talent. The results Felix has posted over the past week in Miami back up that view, and we are delighted that he will make his debut this year. Frances reached our quarterfinals last year and everybody loved him. We look forward to seeing all of them in June.”

Yeah, I bet you do.

So, too, is the upcoming clay-court Masters event in Madrid. Tournament director Feliciano Lopez expects to reap the benefits of Auger-Aliassime’s appearance after the Montreal native was given a wild card on Monday.

“I have great memories from my junior career at the Caja Magica, where I hope to produce some magic again,” Auger-Aliassime commented.

How much more magic can we got from these guys?

About 15 more years worth of magic, most likely.