The ITF Wheelchair Tour had an extended stay in British Columbia over the last month, something that young Frederique Berube Perron took full advantage of. At just 18 years of age, the Canadian looks to be a rising star in the wheelchair tennis world after claiming three trophies at a pair of events on the West Coast. Her best results came last week at the Vancouver International Wheelchair Tennis Tournament, where she won both the women’s singles and doubles titles. The former was her first career ITF singles title. Berube Perron, who has played in more junior draws than women’s in 2024, did not drop a set on her way to the singles title. In the final, she beat Laura Goodkind, an American 20 years her senior.
“Wow, what a tournament! I really didn’t expect this result. I only started a year and a half ago,” said Berube Perron after her victory in Vancouver. “I’m really proud of myself and all the progress I’ve made. All the sacrifices and training have paid off. Thanks to all the tournament organizers, to Laura [Goodkind] who played a great match and above all a huge thank you to my family, my coach and Tennis Canada for believing in me!”
The singles finalists also teamed up to win the doubles in Vancouver, which was their second title in a row together. The week prior, Berube Perron and Goodkind won the doubles at the Kamloops Legacy Wheelchair Tennis Tournament. That title in Kamloops was the first ITF women’s title of the young Canadian’s career. The only other Canadian winner at the two British Columbia events was local Thomas Venos, who won the men’s doubles title in Kamloops with Brazil’s Bruno Makey. In the three-team round-robin event, they dominated, losing just three games in their two matches. Venos is now up to five ITF doubles titles in 2024. In Kamloops, Anne-Marie Dolinar reached the women’s singles final but lost to Goodkind.
Here are the winners of the event in Kamloops:
- Men’s Champion(s): Charlie Cooper (USA)
- Women’s Champion(s) Singles: Laura Goodkind (USA)
- Doubles: Bruno Makey (BRA)/Thomas Venos (CAN)
- Frederique Berube Perron (CAN)/Laura Goodkind (USA) Quad: Andrew Bogdanov (USA)
- Mixed event Junior (mixed): Charlie Copper (USA)
- Mixed event
Here are the winners of the event in Vancouver:
- Men’s Champion(s): Ben Weekes (AUS)
- Women’s Champion(s) Singles: Frederique Berube Perron (CAN)
- Doubles: Charlie Cooper (USA)/Tomas Majetic (USA)
- Frederique Berube Perron (CAN)/Laura Goodkind Quad: Andrew Bogdanov (USA)
- Mixed event Junior (mixed): Charlie Copper (USA)
- Mixed event Boucherville
Back in June, the ITF Wheelchair Tour made a stop in Eastern Canada for the Sani Sport International Open in Boucherville, Quebec. Two Canadians were victorious on home soil at the event. Natalia Lanucha picked up her first singles title of the year, emerging from the four-woman field in a round-robin event. The women’s singles title was effectively decided in the match between Lanucha and young Frederique Berube Perron. Both were 2-0 heading into their final match, which the veteran Lanucha won in three sets to guarantee a first-place finish.
Prior to win No. 5 in Kamloops, Thomas Venos won his fourth doubles title of the year in Boucherville. He and American Conner Stroud were the top seeds and did not drop a set on their way to victory. Venos also reached the singles final but lost to his doubles partner, Stroud.
Here is the full list of winners from the ITF Event in Boucherville:
- Men’s Champion(s): Conner Stroud (USA)
- Women’s Champion(s) Singles: Natalia Lanucha (CAN)
- Doubles: Conner Stroud (USA)/Thomas Venos (CAN)
- No Event Junior (mixed): Charlie Cooper (USA)
- Mixed event Shaw Finally Stands Alone
It has been a very good year for Rob Shaw in doubles competition, having already won four titles. But singles trophies had eluded the Canadian star. That changed in early July, when Shaw won his first singles title of the year at the German Open, beating Chile’s Francisco Cayulef 7-5, 7-6(5) in the final. It is Shaw’s 23rd ITF singles title overall but first since 2022.
“What a way to finish out a great week in Berlin. Couldn’t be happier with how I gutted out my performance today,” said Shaw after his victory over Cayulef in the final. “I went into the match feeling very under the weather but managed to find the sparks I needed to win. I executed to the best my body would allow today and that’s all I could ask for.”
Shaw did not drop a set on his way to winning in Berlin for the second time (2022). The finals victory over Cayulef was also revenge for the Parapan American Games final last November, narrowly won by the Chilean.
On Thursday, Shaw was officially named to Team Canada for the upcoming Paralympic Games in Paris. He is the lone Canadian to qualify directly for the wheelchair tennis event, although wild cards are still to be announced.
Another result of note over the last month came at an event in Alghero, Italy, where Anne-Marie Dolinar reached the doubles final with Zuleinny Rodriguez Trujillo, but they fell in the title match in straight sets.
