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Double duty at Paris Olympics for Fernandez and Auger-Aliassime

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Double duty at Paris Olympics for Fernandez and Auger-Aliassime

Tennis Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee have announced the roster of Team Canada athletes nominated to compete in tennis at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Two of the five Team Canada members are local tennis products Felix Auger-Aliassime of Montreal and Laval’s Leylah Annie Fernandez. Rounding out the roster are Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Thornhill’s Milos Raonic and Gabriela Dabrowski.

Fernandez, ranked 33rd in the world and Auger-Aliassime, who is 18th in the rankings, will compete in the singles and doubles events at the Games. Fernandez will team-up with Dabrowski, while Auger-Aliassime will partner with Raonic. As for the mixed doubles event, the entry list will also be based on ranking but determined via an on-site sign-in the week of the event.

Play gets underway this Saturday, July 27 at the famed Roland Garros Stadium, home to the French Open. “Team Canada’s tennis athletes are on the rise,” Bruny Surin, Paris 2024 Chef de Mission, said. “ Their historic performances over the past few years forecast great success in Paris. The strength of this team, combined with their focus and powerful play, will be a formidable force on the legendary courts of Roland Garros. Get ready to see our tennis stars step up and represent Canada loud and proud.”

This will be the second Olympic games for Fernandez, an opportunity she is excited about. “It’s an honor to be able to represent Canada at the Olympic Games again,” Leylah Annie Fernandez said. “I had a lot of fun at the last Games in Tokyo and can’t wait to join the rest of the team in Paris. It’s a great experience to be able to meet and spend time with athletes from other disciplines. We are all normally so focused within our own sports, and the Olympics gives us all a chance to learn from each other and come together as one big family.”

Auger-Aliassime, presently ranked 18th, is looking forward to sporting the Team Canada colours, “It’s an honour to represent my country at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris,” Felix Auger-Aliassime said. “I’m delighted to be part of Team Canada. It’s a global event that brings the world and the athletes together around the Olympic values of friendship, respect and excellence; I’m proud to be part of this inspiring event and I look forward to carrying the Canadian flag as high and far as possible.”

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