Shapovalov, Andreescu, Raonic ride Canadian Wave at Indian Wells

The Canadian contingent has found strength in numbers at Indian Wells, with four reaching the third round and three playing for spots in the quarterfinals.

Milos Raonic, 28, has been joined in the quarters by youngsters Denis Shapovalov and 18-year-old wild card Bianca Andreescu. And another 18-year-old Canadian wild card, Felix Auger-Aliassime, reached the third round before falling in a third-set tiebreaker.

Andreescu will be Top 50 next week and Auger-Aliassime just a few spots behind, with both having begun the season below the Top 100 in the rankings. Shapovalov is likely to top his career-high of No. 23 next week.

The teenagers have been cheering each other on during the week.

"It's great. We have played so many junior tournaments together, and it's so nice to see each and every one of us at the top of our game at this stage," Andreescu said. "I think all that really contributes to our successes. We motivate each other. If one person does well, it's really nice to see."

Shapovalov acknowledged the role of Raonic in leading the way, with he and Eugenie Bouchard getting to major finals and reaching the Top 10 in the rankings while representing Canada.

"I think guys like me and Felix got inspired off guys like Milos," Shapovalov said. "I think it was kind of a snowball effect for Canada. Started with Danny [Nestor] winning so many titles, medals, stuff like this. Then obviously we have Milos and Vasek, who are doing unbelievable. And I remember me and Felix, growing up, at the camps and stuff, watching Milos and Vasek play Davis Cup."

He also cited the junior competition in the country growing up.

"And I think it's important to kind of have a good group of players, you know, just a lot of camps," said Shapovalov. "There were 10 of us doing amazing for juniors, and that's super important.

"But I feel like ever since then, me and Felix have been sort of competing against each other in a way. I remember in juniors he kind of shot up, and then I got to his ranking, then I won Wimbledon, then he won US Open. So we have kind of been competing against each other, and now we have again with this tournament."

Raonic is recommending getting used to it.

"It's incredible," he said. "It's been a very good week and I think, you know, it's new and it's sort of fresh, but I don't think that will be the case for long. I think it's just going to get better in that sense."

Raonic is the top-ranked Canadian at No. 14 on the ATP tour.