Canada’s largest indoor men’s tennis tournament opened in Quebec with a one-point exhibition that drew local amateurs alongside touring professionals, L’Express reported.
The 11th edition of the Challenger Banque Nationale de Drummondville kicked off at the local indoor venue with its experimental opening-night event. Canadian player Duncan Chan claimed the trophy in the single-point format after defeating local club finalist Julien Cordeau, who earned a spot in the tournament’s qualifying draw as a result.
“We had an exceptional evening in terms of atmosphere and results,” Hugo Bergeron, the Challenger administrator, told L’Express. “The players loved it, and the fans in the stands loved it.”
Tournament president Jean-Raymond Lafond said that the quick-fire format helps bring fans closer to the sport. The opening exhibition featured a series of sudden-death points where professional players were restricted to a single serve.
Competition shifts to the main draw following weekend qualifiers at the venue. Colombian top seed Nicolás Mejía faces German player Louis Wessels in his opening match of the tournament.
Seven Canadian players appear in the main singles draw. An opening-round matchup on Monday pits Liam Draxl against Keegan Rice, ensuring at least one Canadian advances to the second round.
“The first match tomorrow, it’s Duncan Chan who is going to play against a former finalist of the tournament, Michael Mmoh, an American with a devastating serve,” Bergeron told L’Express. “So tomorrow at 6:30 p.m., we start strong with the first match.”
Lafond highlighted the depth of the field, which includes two former tournament champions and upcoming international talent.
“We have a very strong year, we have two former champions of the tournament who are there,” Lafond told L’Express. “We have Alexis Galarneau and Liam Draxl who are going to play in the Davis Cup next week in Bologna, Italy.”
Organizers hosted a family-focused community day alongside Sunday’s qualifying matches. The event featured on-site mascots, interactive games, and a radar station allowing attendees to measure their serve velocity.
Tournament organizers maintain free daytime admission agreements with local elementary schools, welcoming classes from the fifth and sixth grades. Children participating in a partnered drawing contest gain the opportunity to escort players onto the court.
Officials anticipate total tournament attendance to reach approximately 5,000 spectators across the week.
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