Staff Canada’s depth has been on full show throughout the 2024 Davis Cup competitors. By means of 4 ties, 4 completely different males have gained singles matches for the nation.
For the third time in three rounds of the occasion this 12 months, Canada will probably be rolling with a distinct mixture of gamers on the Davis Cup, however given the outcomes thus far, there is no such thing as a actual trigger for concern. Even with 4 completely different gamers having gotten the nod for a singles match, Canada is 9-0 in singles this 12 months on the Davis Cup with the lack of only one set.
Three of these 4 males, Denis Shapovalov, Gabriel Diallo, and Vasek Pospisil, will probably be in Malaga this November to attempt to convey dwelling a second title in three years. Becoming a member of them are two gamers, Alexis Galarneau and Milos Raonic, with no scarcity of expertise and profitable pedigree at this occasion.
Let’s meet the boys of Staff Canada forward of the 2024 Davis Cup Ultimate 8.
Denis Shapovalov
- Rank: 78
- Davis Cup Look: eleventh
- Davis Cup Report: 18-10
- 2024 Report: 21-22
2024 has not been the bounce-back 12 months many might have hoped for from Denis Shapovalov, however he has been displaying indicators of progress over the previous few months.
The 25-year-old was brilliant during the Davis Cup Group Stage in Manchester, profitable all three of his singles matches in straight units, together with the clinching point over Dan Evans in Canada’s final tie against Great Britain. He added a doubles win against Finland, ending the week 4-1 (a doubles loss against Argentina within the opening tie).
Whereas he might not have totally carried that good kind by the autumn, he put up some good outcomes, together with qualifying for the Shanghai Masters and attending to the second spherical, in addition to reaching his second quarter-final of the season in Basel, the place he lost to the eventual champion Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. He adopted that up together with his finest run since October 2022, coming by qualifying to reach the final at the ATP 250 event in Belgrade.
Shapovalov will probably be known as upon to play the function of Canadian No. 1 for the primary time at a Davis Cup tie because the 2019 Finals, when he powered Canada into the ultimate with spectacular performances in singles and doubles.
Gabriel Diallo
- Rank: 88
- Davis Cup Look: seventh
- Davis Cup Report: 4-4
- 2024 Report: 11-14
With Shapovalov and Félix Auger-Aliassime in attendance, Diallo’s lone match within the group stage was a useless doubles rubber on the ultimate day in opposition to Nice Britain. However the large Montrealer has confirmed himself greater than able to stepping up for the nationwide workforce, together with earlier this 12 months when he scored two crucial singles wins in the qualifying round to ship Canada to Manchester.
Since that journey to the UK, the 23-year-old has continued to make strides. He got here by qualifying at a Masters 1000 occasion for the primary time in Shanghai in October and added a few deep runs at ATP Challenger Tour Occasions.
However the spotlight was on the ATP 250 occasion in Almaty, Kazakhstan, the place Diallo reached his first last on the ATP Tour. He beat a former Masters 1000 champion and two High 40 gamers on his way to the final, the place he went toe-to-toe with veteran Karen Khachanov, developing simply quick in three units.
On account of the run in Almaty, Diallo broke into the High 100 on the ATP rankings for the primary time, even briefly leaping over Shapovalov earlier than Basel. His sport is effectively suited to the indoor courts in Malaga and he might profit from opening proceedings because the Canadian No. 2. In 4 of his 5 earlier singles matches in Davis Cup play, he was within the function of the nation’s No. 1 participant.
Alexis Galarneau
- Rank: 216
- Davis Cup Look: 8th
- Davis Cup Report: 5-5
- 2024 Report: 2-3
Like Diallo, Galarneau was restricted to only one useless doubles match throughout September’s group stage. However the Lavallois has confirmed himself able to stepping up for his nation earlier than, most notably throughout the 2023 group stage when he gained two singles and three doubles matches.
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Since Manchester, Galarneau has been taking part in primarily on the Challenger Tour and has been comparatively constant, reaching the quarter-finals or higher at 4 of seven tournaments. His finest end result got here within the last week of October when he reached the semifinals of the Charlottesville Challenger.
Galarneau has been some of the constant presences on the Canadian Davis Cup workforce since making his debut in March 2022. He has not missed a tie because the 2022 qualifiers in opposition to the Netherlands, a streak of eight consecutive nominations which is the longest energetic streak of any participant on the Canadian squad.
Milos Raonic
- Rank: 238
- Davis Cup Look: 16th
- Davis Cup Report: 19-6
- 2024 Report: 6-5
A 12 months in the past, the veteran was the bright spot for Canada in the Final 8, choosing up the lone level with a traditional, medical serving efficiency in the 2-1 quarter-final loss to Finland. Regardless of having not performed since July, he arrives in Malaga tied for essentially the most singles wins by a Canadian in Davis Cup play with 17 (tied with Sébastien Lareau).
After making his return to the tour in 2023 after a multi-year absence, it has been a quiet 2024 for Raonic.
He has had some moments of brilliance, together with quarter-final runs in Rotterdam, the place he pushed soon-to-be world No. 1 Jannik Sinner arduous for a set earlier than having to retire, and in s-Hertogenbosch. He additionally set a tour file for many aces in a best-of-three match throughout his thrilling first-round win on the Queen’s Membership over Cameron Norrie.
However accidents have been an issue too. His first three tournaments of the 12 months ended with retirements and the final time his identify appeared in a draw was in Montreal, the place he withdrew previous to his first-round match.
Raonic was meant to be a part of the workforce in Manchester however was compelled to withdraw as a result of a damaged toe. His final match was on the Paris Olympics in July, a three-tiebreak first-round loss to Dominik Koepfer.
Vasek Pospisil
- Rank: 737
- Davis Cup Look: 28th
- Davis Cup Report: 32-27
- 2024 Report: 1-1
It has been a gradual 12 months for the present Mr. Davis Cup as accidents are mounting up. Pospisil has been stop-start all season and has barely performed since September’s group stage. Actually, he has solely participated in a single match, reaching the second spherical of the ATP Challenger occasion in Calgary the place he misplaced to his Davis Cup teammate Galarneau.
Pospisil has not performed a tour occasion exterior of Canada since April.
The one aggressive match he did play overseas of late was in Davis Cup play when he teamed up with Shapovalov in doubles against Argentina.
Whereas he’ll arrive in Malaga with out a lot match play below his belt, Pospisil has a knack for defying the percentages and taking part in his finest with the maple leaf on his chest. Two years in the past, he was a serious piece in Canada’s title run with deciding doubles victories in each the quarters in opposition to Germany and semifinals in opposition to Italy.
Staff Canada will open their marketing campaign in Malaga the identical manner they did throughout the 2022 championship run, with a quarter-final in opposition to Germany. The tie will happen on Nov. 20 at 12:00 pm native, 6:00 am EST.
Viewers can watch Staff Canada’s Davis Cup Ultimate 8 ties totally free on CBC Gem, cbcsports.ca, the CBC Sports activities app, and CBC Sports activities’ official YouTube channel. The ties may even be out there in French, as TVA Sports and TVA Sports Direct will probably be displaying Canada’s matchups, in addition to all semifinals and finals.
