Siguoin Looks To Become Next Canadian Star
Siguoin Looks To Become Next Canadian Star
The 17 year old made his ATP Challenger Tour main draw debut in Winnipeg
Canadian teenagers Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger Aliassime have been making headlines for their results in junior Grand Slams and the ATP Challenger Tour, but another talented young Canadian could soon be doing the same.
Benjamin Sigouin, currently ranked No. 12 in the ITF Junior Rankings, competed in his first ATP Challenger Tour main draw this week at the $75,000 event in Winnipeg, Canada. Although the 17 year old lost in the first round to American Mitchell Krueger, he saw the experience as invaluable.
“You can’t compare it to the juniors. All these guys are at a really high level. There’s no easy match,” said Siguoin. “I’ve hit with a good bunch of them. It’s nice to see some different balls than the juniors.”
Although Siguoin is in the beginning stages of embarking on a pro career, he’s been training like one for years. Based out of the National Training Centre in Montreal, his days consist of twice-daily sessions of tennis and school work, in addition to a fitness session at the end of the day.
The schedule is comparable to what Shapovalov and Auger Aliassime currently undergo. Although the trio all focused on their individual careers, they’ve formed close friendships with each other and motivate one another to succeed on and off the court.
“We’re all really good competitors. We’re really good friends, but we push each other for sure,” said Siguoin. “Every big result they do makes me more motivated and I’m sure vice-versa.”
Although Siguoin said his pro experience will primarily consist of Futures events for now, he’ll also mix them in with ATP Challenger Tour events and the world’s biggest junior tournaments as he aims to be No. 1 in the ITF Junior Rankings by next year. The Canadian has already developed a taste for the big time, as evidenced by winning a match 13-11 in the deciding set during a boys’ singles match this year at Roland Garros, where he reached the quarter-finals.
“There are only three tournaments a year where you can play that long,” said Siguoin. “It was really special being my first main draw at a Grand Slam and to do that in the third-round against a good player was fun.”