Canada skip Kerri Einarson celebrates winning the women's bronze medal game against the United States at the Pan Continental Curling Championships in Calgary, Alta., Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
CAMROSE, Alta. – Reigning national champion Kerri Einarson’s comeback effort fell just short Thursday, losing 5-4 to Japan’s Satsuki Fujisawa at the Grand Slam of Curling’s Canadian Open.
Down 4-1 after five ends, Einarson trimmed the deficit with a two-point sixth end. After Fujisawa added another single in the seventh, Einarson could only put one on the board with the chance to push for an extra end.
Fellow Canadians Casey Scheidegger and Isabelle Ladouceur also dropped their matchups in the women’s evening draw. Scheidegger fell 6-5 to Italy’s Stefania Constantini, while Ladouceur was defeated 10-2 by Switzerland’s Raphaela Keiser.
Sweden’s Isabella WranÃ¥ topped fellow Swede Anna Hasselborg 4-2 in the other game.
Canada’s Rachel Homan and Kaitlyn Lawes both picked up victories in the morning draw.
In men’s action, Matt Dunstone defeated John Epping 8-5 in an all-Canadian matchup Thursday afternoon. Meanwhile, Canada’s Kevin Koe dropped a 9-6 decision to Italy’s Joel Retornaz.
The second men’s draw was scheduled for later Thursday at Encana Arena.
Play continues through Sunday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 12, 2023.
