Summer Universiade: Three Canadians to compete in tennis in China

July 7, 2011

OTTAWA (CIS) – Canadian Interuniversity Sport announced Thursday the student-athletes and coach who will represent Canada in tennis at the 26th Summer Universiade in August in Shenzhen, China.

Phil Anderson of Halifax and Carl Ho of Richmond, B.C., will compete in the men’s singles tournament, while Anderson will team up with Christiaan Lee-Daigle of Tecumseh, Ont., for the doubles event.

Anderson, 21, and Ho, 20, are teammates at the University of New Mexico in the NCAA. Anderson was named an All-Mountain West Conference doubles player each of the past two years, while Ho, who was born in Hong Kong, was an All-MWC singles player in 2009-10.

Lee-Daigle, a 21-year-old who studies at Queens University of Charlotte, an NCAA Division II school, is the reigning Conference Carolinas player of the year.

Canada will not be represented in the women’s tourney in Shenzhen.

Bethany Clark from the Steve Nash Sports Club in Richmond, B.C., has been named the delegation’s team leader and coach.

The Universiade tennis competition is set to run from Aug. 14-21.

Canada has captured four tennis medals over the years at the world university games including a pair of golds and two bronzes.

In 1993 in Buffalo, Robert Janecek and Jamie Laschinger took third place in men’s doubles.

In 1983 in Edmonton, Jill Hetherington, who would go on to win 15 WTA titles and reach two Grand Slam finals, partnered with Karen Dewis to win the women’s doubles and with Bill Jenkins to claim mixed doubles gold.

In 1979, in Mexico City, Hélène Pelletier and Nick Mohtadi captured the bronze medal in mixed doubles. Pelletier went on to win a WTA doubles title with Hetherington in 1985.

TEAM CANADA ROSTER

Name - University - Hometown - Events

Phil Anderson U of New Mexico Halifax, N.S. S & D
Carl Ho U of New Mexico Richmond, B.C. S
Christiaan Lee-Daigle Queens U of Charlotte Tecumseh, Ont. D
S: singles
D: doubles

STAFF

Position - Name - Hometown

Team leader & coach Bethany Clark Port Moody, B.C.

CANADIAN MEDALS IN TENNIS AT THE SUMMER UNIVERSIADE (4):

Gold
1983 (Edmonton): Jill Hetherington & Karen Dewis (women’s doubles)
1983 (Edmonton): Jill Hetherington & Bill Jenkins (mixed doubles)

Bronze
1993 (Buffalo): Robert Janecek & Jamie Laschinger (men’s doubles)
1979 (Mexico City): Hélène Pelletier & Nick Mohtadi (mixed doubles)

-CIS-