For the primary time since 2018, the boys of Group Canada offered by Sobeys will get to go well with up and play in entrance of their house followers in Davis Cup competitors.
The final time Canada hosted a Davis Cup tie was in 2018, when the Canadians defeated the Netherlands in Toronto to remain on this planet group.
Two members of that squad are again 5 and bit years later, joined by three kids, together with one who will don the pink and white this week in Montreal for the primary time because the Canadians host South Korea within the qualifying spherical.
Let’s meet Group Canada.
Milos Raonic
- Rank: 319 (Shield Rating: 33)
- Davis Cup Ties Performed: 13
- Davis Cup Report: 19-6
Raonic made his return to Team Canada final November on the Davis Cup Remaining 8 in Malaga and was again with a bang, blowing away Patrick Kaukovalta in a basic serving clinic from the Missile.
2023 was a comeback yr for Raonic, who had not performed since 2021 as a result of accidents. On high of the good efficiency in Malaga, he scored a High 10 win over Frances Tiafoe on his technique to the final 16 on the Nationwide Financial institution Open and had some good wins on grass, exhibiting that when Raonic is feeling good, he’s nonetheless extraordinarily harmful, particularly on quick surfaces just like the indoor one the place the upcoming tie will probably be performed.
Learn additionally: Raonic Replaces Shapovalov on Team Canada for Davis Cup Tie
The final look of Raonic for Group Canada previous to the 2023 Davis Cup Finals was additionally Canada’s final Davis Cup house tie. He didn’t drop a set in two singles matches as he led his nation to a 3-1 win.
Gabriel Diallo
- Rank: 135
- Davis Cup Ties Performed: 5
- Davis Cup Report: 2-3
Diallo is a rising star on the Canadian tennis scene and really started to make his mark in 2023. All 4 of his Davis Cup singles matches final yr have been within the No. 1 place, stepping up whereas his teammates have been injured.
The 22-year-old went 2-2 in these matches, utilizing his huge serve and highly effective groundstrokes to information Canada to first place in Group A in the course of the group stage. That included his first High 20 win over Lorenzo Musetti within the defending champions’ sweep of Italy.
Learn Additionally: How the Rest of 2023 Went for Jannik Sinner
On the ATP Tour, he made his debut in 2023 and scored what was on the time his greatest win rankings-wise (previous to beating Musetti) over Dan Evans on house soil in Toronto. Diallo has already had some good ends in 2024, together with coming inside a set of qualifying for his first Grand Slam on the Australian Open.
Alexis Galarneau
- Rank: 203
- Davis Cup Ties Performed: 6
- Davis Cup Report: 5-3
Galarneau is coming into his third yr representing his nation on the Davis Cup, having made his debut in 2022. Like Diallo, he noticed his position drastically expanded in 2023 and the 24-year-old was up to the challenge. Within the group stage, Galearneau went 5-0, with two singles wins and three doubles victories.
Additionally like Diallo, he picked up his greatest profession win in the course of the tie with Italy, his first High 40 victory towards Lorenzo Sonego. Accidents slowed Galarneau down within the late levels of 2023, however in the summertime he scored his first ATP Challenger title on house soil in Granby. This will probably be his first time taking part in Davis Cup at house.
Liam Draxl
- Rank: 306
- Davis Cup Ties Performed: Making Debut
The youngest member of the Canadian crew will probably be donning the pink and white for his nation for the primary time in Davis Cup competitors. Draxl solely turned professional in June 2023 after a profitable four-year run within the NCAA taking part in for the College of Kentucky Wildcats.
Throughout his NCAA profession, he was a two-time All-American and held the No. 1 rating in 2021. That very same yr, he was named ITA (Intercollegiate Tennis Affiliation, the governing physique of school tennis in america) Participant of the Yr.
On the professional circuit, he has 5 titles to his title, with the most important approaching house soil final November when he won his first ATP Challenger Tour title in Calgary.
Vasek Pospisil
- Rank: 450
- Davis Cup Ties Performed: 32
- Davis Cup Report: 31-25
Pospisil is probably the most skilled Davis Cup participant on the crew, having participated in additional ties than his 4 teammates mixed. He has solely missed two attainable appearances within the final 5 years and has missed simply 4 out of a possible 26 nominations since he grew to become a daily with the nationwide crew in 2011.
The person from Vernon, B.C, has the second most whole match wins of any Canadian for the Davis Cup squad all-time, trailing solely Daniel Nestor.
Learn additionally: Pospisil Keeps Producing his Davis Cup Heroics
His heroics performed a key position in Canada’s 2022 title run, together with two decisive doubles wins within the group stage and two extra within the Remaining 8. In 2023, he went 4-0 within the group stage in Bologna with three doubles wins and one in singles. Whereas accidents have restricted his play on tour over latest months, Pospisil all the time brings his finest when representing his nation.
Canada’s tie with South Korea will happen on Friday, Feb. 2 and Saturday, Feb. 3,
