March 21, 2019

Canadian Comets: From Bassett-Seguso to Bouchard and Andreescu

Bianca Andreescu, whose stunning Indian Wells run last week marked the biggest ever title won by a Canadian on the WTA Tour, is also the 15th player from her country to reach the Top 100 since the inception of computer rankings. Check out the history of Canadian tennis here.

Canada's first Top 100 player was Marjorie Blackwood, who peaked at No.48 and reached the third round of Wimbledon 1982 (Getty) — 01 /15

Canada's first Top 100 player was Marjorie Blackwood, who peaked at No.48 and reached the third round of Wimbledon 1982 (Getty)

Carling Bassett-Seguso, who reached World No.8 in March 1985, was the 1984 US Open semifinalist and a two-time titlist (Hershey 1983, Strasbourg 1987) who would remain Canada's only Top 10 player for the next 28 years (Getty) — 02 /15

Carling Bassett-Seguso, who reached World No.8 in March 1985, was the 1984 US Open semifinalist and a two-time titlist (Hershey 1983, Strasbourg 1987) who would remain Canada's only Top 10 player for the next 28 years (Getty)

Patricia Hy-Boulais first cracked the Top 100 in 1983 and won Taipei City in 1986 playing for Hong Kong, but reached the 1992 US Open quarterfinals and spent six years in the Top 100 (peaking at No.28 in 1993) as a Canadian in the '90s (Getty) — 03 /15

Patricia Hy-Boulais first cracked the Top 100 in 1983 and won Taipei City in 1986 playing for Hong Kong, but reached the 1992 US Open quarterfinals and spent six years in the Top 100 (peaking at No.28 in 1993) as a Canadian in the '90s (Getty)

Helen Kelesi, dubbed 'Hurricane Helen' by the press, was a two-time champion (Tokyo 1986, Taranto 1988) and two-time major quarterfinalist (Roland Garros 1988-89) who reached World No.13 in 1989 (Getty) — 04 /15

Helen Kelesi, dubbed 'Hurricane Helen' by the press, was a two-time champion (Tokyo 1986, Taranto 1988) and two-time major quarterfinalist (Roland Garros 1988-89) who reached World No.13 in 1989 (Getty)

Ranked World No.128, Jill Hetherington was a surprise champion at Wellington 1988, and peaked at No.64 that year after reaching the US Open third round (Getty) — 05 /15

Ranked World No.128, Jill Hetherington was a surprise champion at Wellington 1988, and peaked at No.64 that year after reaching the US Open third round (Getty)

Rene Simpson, who sadly died from brain cancer in 2013, was the 1988 Guaruja finalist and made it to World No.70 in 1989, the same year she reached the third round of Roland Garros (Getty) — 06 /15

Rene Simpson, who sadly died from brain cancer in 2013, was the 1988 Guaruja finalist and made it to World No.70 in 1989, the same year she reached the third round of Roland Garros (Getty)

Jana Nejedly first cracked the Top 100 in October 1995; she would reach five WTA quarterfinals and the third round of the 1999 Australian Open and 2001 US Open, peaking at No.64 in 2000 (Getty) — 07 /15

Jana Nejedly first cracked the Top 100 in October 1995; she would reach five WTA quarterfinals and the third round of the 1999 Australian Open and 2001 US Open, peaking at No.64 in 2000 (Getty)

Sonya Jeyaseelan entered the Top 100 in 1997, and her career highlights included the Bogota final in 1998, third-round runs at the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2000, a win over Venus Williams at Amelia Island 1999 and a peak ranking of No.48 (Getty) — 08 /15

Sonya Jeyaseelan entered the Top 100 in 1997, and her career highlights included the Bogota final in 1998, third-round runs at the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2000, a win over Venus Williams at Amelia Island 1999 and a peak ranking of No.48 (Getty)

A surprise run to the 1999 Australian Open fourth round as a qualifier catapulted the fiery late bloomer Maureen Drake into the Top 100, and she would peak at No.47 in September that year (Getty) — 09 /15

A surprise run to the 1999 Australian Open fourth round as a qualifier catapulted the fiery late bloomer Maureen Drake into the Top 100, and she would peak at No.47 in September that year (Getty)

Aleksandra Wozniak became the first Canadian Tier II champion when she won her sole career title at Stanford 2008; Wozniak would also reach the fourth round of Roland Garros 2009, raising her to a career-high ranking of World No.21 (Getty) — 10 /15

Aleksandra Wozniak became the first Canadian Tier II champion when she won her sole career title at Stanford 2008; Wozniak would also reach the fourth round of Roland Garros 2009, raising her to a career-high ranking of World No.21 (Getty)

Stéphanie Dubois first broached the Top 100 in March 2008, but peaked at World No.87 in January 2012 off the back of her third Grand Slam second-round showing in Melbourne (Getty) — 11 /15

Stéphanie Dubois first broached the Top 100 in March 2008, but peaked at World No.87 in January 2012 off the back of her third Grand Slam second-round showing in Melbourne (Getty)

In 2011, Rebecca Marino cracked the Top 100, reached the Memphis final and Roland Garros third round and hit a career high of World No.38; after a five-year hiatus from the game, she returned in 2018 and is currently ranked No.204 (Getty) — 12 /15

In 2011, Rebecca Marino cracked the Top 100, reached the Memphis final and Roland Garros third round and hit a career high of World No.38; after a five-year hiatus from the game, she returned in 2018 and is currently ranked No.204 (Getty)

Eugenie Bouchard cracked the Top 100 in April 2013; a year later she reached the Wimbledon final, semifinals at the Australian Open and Roland Garros and won the Nurnberg title, becoming Canada's first Top 5 player (Getty) — 13 /15

Eugenie Bouchard cracked the Top 100 in April 2013; a year later she reached the Wimbledon final, semifinals at the Australian Open and Roland Garros and won the Nurnberg title, becoming Canada's first Top 5 player (Getty)

2010 Acapulco quarterfinalist Sharon Fichman broke the Top 100 in August 2013 and peaked at No.77 in May 2014 (Getty) — 14 /15

2010 Acapulco quarterfinalist Sharon Fichman broke the Top 100 in August 2013 and peaked at No.77 in May 2014 (Getty)

Bianca Andreescu is set to take Canadian tennis to new heights, with her maiden title in Indian Wells the biggest in her country's history (Getty) — 15 /15

Bianca Andreescu is set to take Canadian tennis to new heights, with her maiden title in Indian Wells the biggest in her country's history (Getty)