MIAMI—Palm trees don’t sprout maple leaves, but a trio of talented Canadians are sprouting in the North American spring.
Two weeks after 18-year-old Canadian Bianca Andreescu fought off Angelique Kerber, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, in to capture her first WTA title in an Indian Wells thriller and become the first wild card to win the BNP Paribas Open, compatriots Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov are making history of their own.
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The 18-year-old Auger-Aliassime and 19-year-old Shapovalov give Canada two of the final four Miami Open semifinalists—and are the first two Canadians to reach a Masters semifinal since Milos Raonic and Vasek Pospisil made the final four at the 2013 Montreal.
Auger-Aliassime, the youngest men’s semifinalist in Miami Open history, fell to reigning champion John Isner, 7-6, 7-6, in Saturday’s opening semifinal.
The 19-year-old Shapovalov takes on three-time champion Roger Federer in the 7 p.m. semifinal.
The pair are the first teenagers to contest a Masters semifinal since 19-year-old junior rivals Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray made the last four at the 2007 Miami and Indian Wells.
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Shapovalov says individual success has inspired a collective Canadian surge among the long-time friends, who have each taken different paths to break-out spring seasons.
“In terms of tennis, I mean, I think we all kind of come from different ways,” Shapovalov said. “Felix comes from the program in Montreal. Bianca comes from the program in Toronto. I come from my own team and my own ways. I don't know really what is going on, but I think if I say, for the men's side, it's been kind of almost a rivalry with me and Felix, and I feel like we have been able to kind of thrive on each other's results and push each other.”
Success breeds success among the former junior rivals.
“Just like this week, every time I see (Felix) win, I'm, like, Come on, you know, let me try to win, as well, and see how far we can get together,” Shapovalov said. “It's just a healthy thing we have had since juniors. You know, I remember when he was climbing up the rankings, and I won Wimbledon, and then he won US Open. So we're always constantly competing. I think it's just so great for us and so great for the country.”
Auger-Aliassime said the pair push each other.
"Obviously his results and mine are pushing each other," Auger-Aliassime said. "I think, yeah, a lot of belief, a lot of positive things happening, and I think it's just pushing us.
"But I don't think we're at a point where we have a rivalry, but we have obviously... we are competitive and good friends at the same time."
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