July 13-18 Stanley Park Open Recap

By Jenn Lin

The Open 1000 Main Draw and National Junior Open Series were off to a sizzling start in week 2 of the National Bank Stanley Park Open (NBSPO) with temperatures reaching a high of 30 degrees. Although as many as 8 walkovers took place during the sudden heat wave this past Sunday, for the province’s top tennis players, enduring the heat is a small price to pay for a chance at making history.

Open Highlights: Dynamic Duos

This year’s Open marks the 10th go around for two-time SPO Women’s Doubles Open Champions Wendy and Juliet Zhang (known as “the Zhang sisters”). Unfortunately, the Zhang sisters’ attempt at a third SPO doubles title was cut short by Alabama State University students Melisa Mekic and Diana Craciun in a thrilling quarterfinal match where they came back from being down 4-7 to win 10-7 in the super tie break.

Hailing from Vancouver and Montreal, Mekic and Craciun had some words of wisdom for young female athletes: have fun and strive for balance. “Work hard and all of that, but try not to put too much pressure on you so you don’t burn out … because to go far with it, you really have to keep the love for it,” said Mekic. Having learned from past injuries which forced them both to step away from the game, Mekic and Craciun emphasized that it was their time away that helped them regain perspective and enjoy the game again.

Notably, last year’s Men’s Singles Open and Men’s Doubles Open runner-up Henry Ren has once again made it into the semi-finals of both categories. This year he’s up against Andres Chavez, who is also a semi-finalist in both Singles and Doubles.

Catching up with Chavez and his doubles partner Dmytro Kovkin last Thursday, one could feel a “bromance for the ages” brewing between the two who met just 6 months prior. When asked how they found each other, Chavez recounted, “Someone introduced us. We have a mutual friend. From there we practiced one time. We said, ‘Hey, we can win all these tournaments. Let’s do it.’” Kovkin calls meeting Chavez “fate.”

Since hitting it off on Day 1, the duo have even launched a YouTube channel @thenotoriousatp where they document their journey to the ATP Tour. A quick glance at their channel shows that Chavez and Kovkin have ended up in numerous tournament finals against each other. “If I lose against him it’s not that tough, you know?” says Kovkin. At this Chavez jokes, “You still owe me a dinner,” presumably for the 2025 Delta Open where Kovkin bested Chavez in the Mens Singles Final.

National Junior Open Series Winners

Congratulations to the following U12 and U14 winners for securing their spots in the 2025 Fischer Outdoor Nationals:

U12

  • Boys Singles: Aidan Sue; Finalist: Aleksander Yong Nygaard
  • Girls Singles: Olivia Ma; Finalist: Xiayue (Cecelia) Bi
  • Boys Doubles: Noah Chen & Jordan Martin; Finalists: Keon Molavi & Aleksander Yong Nygaard
  • Girls Doubles: Vera Wing & Allison Zhang; Finalists: Avery Badyal & Cecelia Bi

U14

  • Boys Singles: Liam John Suh; Finalist: Pak Yui Zenith Fung
  • Girls Singles: Zimo Xiang Bai; Finalist: Emma Yiqing Cao
  • Boys Doubles: Marcus ZiNuo Chang & Alex Zheng; Finalists: Mateo Singh Bains & Markus Taylor Chin
  • Girls Doubles: Lea Cote & Chloe Yuexin Hu; Finalists: Emma Yiqing Cao & Angelica Panzieri

U16

  • Boys Singles: Chi Shun Aiden Chan; Finalist: Luca Vicol
  • Boys Doubles: William Chen & Frederic Augustin Chooi; Finalists: Chi Shun Aiden Chan & Kristian Jin Nygaard
  • Girls Singles: Mila Ajdukovic; Finalist: Leah Yeung
  • Girls Doubles: Jacqueline Cuthill & Leah Yeung; Finalists: Arcee YiJie Chen & Emma Chen

National Bank VIP Night & Tennis Clinic

For the third year in a row, National Bank VIP Night was hosted inside the National Bank Players’ Lounge on July 17th. Roughly 120 guests enjoyed interactive games along with food and beverage catered by Stanley Park Brewing. The next morning, the National Bank Tennis Clinic was held by Tennis BC’s Director of Player Development, Joe Wood, and Hollyburn Country Club coach, Rob Byron, with the aim of generating the most fun and enjoyment for all.

An enduring tradition within the Vancouver tennis community, the NBSPO attracts top local, out-of-province and international tennis players, as well as non-competitors through a shared love of tennis. It brings people of all ages together by building fun on-court rivalries, fostering long-term friendships, and leaving behind lasting memories within the community.

Don’t miss the final weekend of the NBSPO, July 19 & 20, to find out who will be named the 2025 Open champions!

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Author Bio:

Jenn Lin is a Vancouver-based photographer, storyteller and creator of Dogs Will Teach You Love. When she’s not behind the camera or at her desk, Jenn can usually be found on a tennis court! Connect with her on Instagram @jennlin91.