THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO -- Once again, Toronto's Daniel Nestor is Canada's top tennis player. Tennis Canada announced its 2008 Excellence Award winners Monday and the veteran left-hander was named Canada's player of the year for the sixth time, and the country's best doubles performer for the seventh straight year. Aleksandra Wozniak of Blainville, Que., captured three awards on the women's side. She was named Canada's top female player, top singles player and most improved. Frank Dancevic of Niagara Falls, Ont., was named Canada's top male singles player, Peter Polansky of Thornhill, Ont., was named the most improved player, and Ottawa's Edward Nguyen capture top junior male honours. Winnipeg's Lee Carter received the top wheelchair player award. Nestor and Serbian partner Nenad Zimonjic won five championship titles in eight final appearances in 2008, finishing the season as the world's top doubles team. They won the Wimbledon doubles title, making Nestor just the fourth player in tennis history during the Open Era to achieve a career Golden Slam, winning all four Grand Slams and an Olympic gold medal. Nestor also combined with Frederic Niemeyer of Sherbrooke, Que., to represent Canada in Davis Cup action. They're the country's top Davis Cup doubles team with a 10-1 record. Wozniak reached a career-high No. 34 on the world rankings, making her the fourth-highest ranked Canadian singles player all-time. She captured her first Tour title at Stanford in July becoming the first Canadian in 20 years to accomplish such a feat. En route to the title, she registered wins over three top-20 players, including American Serena Williams. She reached the semifinals of Tour events in Quebec City and Tokyo as well as the third round of the French Open. In August 2008, Wozniak was awarded the key to her hometown after becoming the first woman from the province to win a Tour title. She was also honoured with an award from the National Assembly in October in recognition of her accomplishments as a professional athlete. Dancevic captured the Surbiton Challenger in June, one of the key Wimbledon warm-up tournaments. Dancevic then went on to earn his biggest Grand Slam victory by defeating seventh-ranked David Nalbandian of Argentina in a first-round match at Wimbledon. He also reached the semifinals of the ATP event in Newport, R.I., and advanced to the second round of the 2008 Rogers Cup in Toronto, by defeating No. 24 Mario Ancic in the first round before losing to world No. 3 Novak Djokovic. Polansky moved up more than 125 spots in the ATP Tour rankings, reaching a career-best No. 214 by season's end. Nguyen became the first Canadian to win the singles title at Les Petits As in Tarbes, France, one of the most prestigious international titles for under-14 players. Marie-Eve Pelletier of Repentigny, Que., was named the top women's doubles player after compiling an '08 record of 31-24. Eugenie Bouchard of Westmount Que., was named top junior player. She won the singles title at the Eddie Herr International, Costa Rica Bowl and the All-Canadian junior championships. Bouchard also reached the singles semifinals at the Dunlop U-16 Orange Bowl. Carter finished the season ranked No. 17 in wheelchair singles and No. 39 in doubles. Saskatoon's Corey Blatchford was named Canada's most improved wheelchair tennis player. Blatchford improved his singles rankings 49 spots to finish the season at No. 46.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Nestor Canada's top player, again
THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO -- Once again, Toronto's Daniel Nestor is Canada's top tennis player. Tennis Canada announced its 2008 Excellence Award winners Monday and the veteran left-hander was named Canada's player of the year for the sixth time, and the country's best doubles performer for the seventh straight year. Aleksandra Wozniak of Blainville, Que., captured three awards on the women's side. She was named Canada's top female player, top singles player and most improved. Frank Dancevic of Niagara Falls, Ont., was named Canada's top male singles player, Peter Polansky of Thornhill, Ont., was named the most improved player, and Ottawa's Edward Nguyen capture top junior male honours. Winnipeg's Lee Carter received the top wheelchair player award. Nestor and Serbian partner Nenad Zimonjic won five championship titles in eight final appearances in 2008, finishing the season as the world's top doubles team. They won the Wimbledon doubles title, making Nestor just the fourth player in tennis history during the Open Era to achieve a career Golden Slam, winning all four Grand Slams and an Olympic gold medal. Nestor also combined with Frederic Niemeyer of Sherbrooke, Que., to represent Canada in Davis Cup action. They're the country's top Davis Cup doubles team with a 10-1 record. Wozniak reached a career-high No. 34 on the world rankings, making her the fourth-highest ranked Canadian singles player all-time. She captured her first Tour title at Stanford in July becoming the first Canadian in 20 years to accomplish such a feat. En route to the title, she registered wins over three top-20 players, including American Serena Williams. She reached the semifinals of Tour events in Quebec City and Tokyo as well as the third round of the French Open. In August 2008, Wozniak was awarded the key to her hometown after becoming the first woman from the province to win a Tour title. She was also honoured with an award from the National Assembly in October in recognition of her accomplishments as a professional athlete. Dancevic captured the Surbiton Challenger in June, one of the key Wimbledon warm-up tournaments. Dancevic then went on to earn his biggest Grand Slam victory by defeating seventh-ranked David Nalbandian of Argentina in a first-round match at Wimbledon. He also reached the semifinals of the ATP event in Newport, R.I., and advanced to the second round of the 2008 Rogers Cup in Toronto, by defeating No. 24 Mario Ancic in the first round before losing to world No. 3 Novak Djokovic. Polansky moved up more than 125 spots in the ATP Tour rankings, reaching a career-best No. 214 by season's end. Nguyen became the first Canadian to win the singles title at Les Petits As in Tarbes, France, one of the most prestigious international titles for under-14 players. Marie-Eve Pelletier of Repentigny, Que., was named the top women's doubles player after compiling an '08 record of 31-24. Eugenie Bouchard of Westmount Que., was named top junior player. She won the singles title at the Eddie Herr International, Costa Rica Bowl and the All-Canadian junior championships. Bouchard also reached the singles semifinals at the Dunlop U-16 Orange Bowl. Carter finished the season ranked No. 17 in wheelchair singles and No. 39 in doubles. Saskatoon's Corey Blatchford was named Canada's most improved wheelchair tennis player. Blatchford improved his singles rankings 49 spots to finish the season at No. 46.
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