Argentina’s Aragone captures Kelowna Futures title over Canada’s Galarneau

JC Aragone, an American-based Argentine, defeated Alexis Galarneau of Laval, Que., in straight sets 6-2, 6-3 to win the singles title at the Kelowna Futures men’s tennis tournament on the weekend.

The Canada-versus-USA final went in favour of Aragone, a University of Virginia alum who helped the Cavaliers to three straight NCAA team titles from 2015 to 2017. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the 23-year-old Aragone now calls Yorba Linda, Calif., his home base and is ranked 326th on the ATP World Tour.

Galarneau, 19, finished up his sophomore season at North Carolina State, earning first team All-ACC honours for 2017-18.

In the semifinals, Aragone edged Benjamin Sigouin of Vancouver in three sets, prevailing 6-1, 6-7 (1), 6-4.

Galarneau advanced to the championship match after Steven Diez of Toronto retired in the third set of their semi. Diez won the first set 6-2 but suffered an injury in the second set, falling 6-2 and then retiring while trailing 2-0 in the third set.

In the doubles final, Julian Bradley of Ireland and Thai-Son Kwiatkowski of the U.S. teamed up to beat the American tandem of Charlie Emhardt and Samuel Shropshire 7-6 (5), 7-5.

The seventh annual tournament, which started on June 25, was well attended despite some inclement weather towards the end. Rain on Saturday night forced the doubles final indoors at Global Fitness.