Chan and Galarneau eliminated in National Bank Open doubles quarterfinals at Stade IGA
Duncan Chan and Alexis Galarneau were eliminated in the National Bank Open doubles quarterfinals in Montreal, losing 6-2, 6-4 to Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic.
Duncan Chan and Alexis Galarneau, the last Canadian pairing in the National Bank Open doubles draw, were knocked out in the quarterfinals Monday at Stade IGA in Montreal.
The wildcard duo fell in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4, to third seeds Marcelo Arevalo of El Salvador and Croatia’s Mate Pavic.
The result ends a surprising run for the Canadian pair that had captured attention with upset wins earlier in the tournament.
Quarterfinal defeat to Arevalo and Pavic
Arevalo and Pavic advanced by taking control at the net and serving consistently under pressure.
Chan and Galarneau struggled to find a rhythm on serve and were unable to convert opportunities when their opponents came forward.
The third seeds finished the match with a scoreline that reflected their dominance at the net and in key service games.
Service and volley play tilted match
Statistics from the match showed Chan and Galarneau offered 11 break points to the opposition, three of which were converted.
Arevalo and Pavic combined aggressive serving with near-flawless volleying, repeatedly closing points once they approached the net.
Those finishing shots proved decisive, preventing the Canadian pair from mounting a sustained comeback.
Wildcard pair’s earlier upsets set expectations
Chan and Galarneau reached the quarterfinals after notable wins over high-profile teams earlier in the event.
They defeated Alexander Zverev and Marcelo Melo before upsetting the tournament’s 8th seeds, Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Kevin Krawietz.
That sequence of victories, achieved despite minimal prior partnership, made their run one of the tournament’s storyline successes.
Players reflect on first tournament together
The pairing was formed in Montreal with little preparation, and both players said the experience was valuable despite the loss.
Chan noted the opponents’ volleying was nearly perfect and that the Canadians struggled to neutralize those shots.
Galarneau added that different conditions on the central court, including more wind and a slower surface, affected his comfort on returns, but he praised the chance to play several matches on home soil.
Weather interruptions delayed singles schedule
Shortly after the doubles concluded, rain again forced delays at the Stade IGA and pushed back the opening quarterfinal matches in the singles draw.
Organizers announced a postponement of Arthur Fils versus Rafael Jodar, moving the start back by an hour, and adjusted the evening schedule for other scheduled matches.
The weather interruptions added to an already compact timetable and required officials to reshuffle sessions to keep the tournament on track.
Young generation dominates singles quarters
The singles draw at the National Bank Open has been notable for the youth of its remaining players, with all eight quarterfinalists born in the 2000s.
Rafael Jodar and Arthur Fils are among several rising talents making late runs, while Brandon Nakashima — the oldest remaining player at 25 — represents a slightly more experienced cohort.
Tournament observers have pointed to the depth and parity among this group as a defining feature of the week in Montreal.
Moving forward, Chan and Galarneau leave Montreal with confidence gained from strong results against established teams, and the National Bank Open will press on with singles quarterfinals and the promise of more high-stakes matches at Stade IGA.
