ATP stars set pace for fellow Canadians

Filip Peliwo and Brayden Schnur are courting a higher plane of existence in sports.

The two young Canucks want to become the smash hits that Milos Raonic and Denis Shapovalov are these days in the Canadian tennis world.

“I think it’s amazing how well they are doing,” said Schnur, who is ranked 237th in the ATP rankings. “It definitely helps put belief in you. I mean, these are people you trained with growing up and competed against in junior tournaments.

“And now they’re doing so well, so why can’t you?”

Ontarian Schnur has done well in the $75,000 Calgary National Bank Challenger this week at the Osten & Victor Alberta Tennis Centre.

The ATP Challenger Tour stop features the up-and-coming tennis talents of the world trying to earn points to find time on the ATP Tour, where Canadians Raonic, Shapovalov, Vasek Pospisil and Felix Auger-Aliassime are plying their trade.

Schnur won Thursday night’s round of 16 action against 122nd ranked Spain’s Adrian Menendez Maceiras 4-6, 6-2 and 7-6.

That was followed by the doubles team of Canadian Adil Shamasdin and American Hunter Reese up against Venezuela’s Luis David Martinez and Ecuador’s Roberto Quiroz in the quarter-finals.

Also Thursday, Toronto’s Stephen Diez and Quebec’s Alexis Galarneau lost 3-6, 6-1 and 10-6 to the pair of Philippines’ Ruben Gonzales and American Nathaniel Lemmons in quarter-final doubles action.

Meanwhile, Vancouver’s Peliwo, 24, is also using the inspiration of those superstar Canadians on the ATP Tour to fuel his success.

“It’s definitely nice to see because when I was growing up the tennis in Canada definitely wasn’t as high as it is right now,” Peliwo said. “The level was always solid, but right now it’s definitely at the best it’s every been.

“I’d say that Canada’s on the world-class stage right now. When I name the huge list of Canadian players being ranked, I see respect in other players (from other countries).”

In Wednesday’s late action, Peliwo upended American Collin Altamirano 5-7, 7-6, 6-1.

That sets him up for quarterfinal action Friday against Croatia’s Borna Gojo, ranked 505th in the world.

Day 5 of the tournament begins at 11 a.m. with playoffs. The finals go Sunday.