Changing up diet pays off for Pospisil
Nadal overpowers Ottawa’s Levine
MONTREAL There was a time when Vasek Pospisil might have celebrated a big win with a hamburger and poutine, along with a chocolate bar for dessert.
But the 23-year-old from Vancouver said his climb in the ATP rankings can be attributed, in part, to eating better. “I was never fat, but I ate a lot of the wrong things,” Pospisil said Wednesday after he defeated Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-4 to reach the third round of the Rogers Cup men’s tennis championships at the Jarry Tennis Centre.
Pospisil was one of two Canadians to reach the final 16 in the $3.4-million event, joining 11th-seeded Milos Raonic of Richmond Hill, Ont. Raonic defeated Russian Mikhail Youhzny 6-4, 6-4 in a match that was interrupted by a brief evening shower. It’s the first time two Canadians have reached the round of 16 since Grant Connell and Andrew Sznajder did it in 1989.
Three other Canadians fell by the wayside. Vancouver teen Filip Peliwo put up a fight before losing to Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, veteran Frank Dancevic of Niagara Falls lost to 15th-seeded Jerzy Janowicz of Poland 7-6, 3-6, 6-4 and fourth-seeded Rafael Nadal of Spain dominated Ottawa-born Jesse Levine 6-2, 6-0.
Pospisil, who has shed 10 pounds, said he was forced to look at his diet earlier this year while he was recovering from mono. Those early lessons were reinforced by French coach Frederic Fontang, who has made healthy eating an essential part of Pospisil’s routine.
The win Wednesday lacked the drama of Pospisil’s threeset struggle with American John Isner in the opening round, but he was grateful to win a solid match, which was over in 74 minutes.
“This match isn’t as memorable as my match with John, in terms of the moment, but then again, this is the first time I ever reached the third round of a Masters event,” said Pospisil. “But definitely, a routine win is better. I get the rest I need. I’ve had a lot of matches lately.”
Pospisil’s only hiccup came in the second set when he broke Stepanek three times, but also struggled on his own serve. He was broken twice and said he had to summon all his reserves when he was serving for the match at 5-4.