Canada could play the September games on ice and would not have a snowball opportunity in Inuvik with the team it named on Monday.
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When Russia was eliminated from the Davis Cup finals following its invasion of Ukraine, the International Tennis Federation reviewed the rankings and determined that Canada was next in line with two exciting players, Montrealer Félix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov. of Richmond Hill, Ont. ranked in the top 20 in the ATP Tour rankings.
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But neither of them will be in Spain when the group stage of the competition begins.
The ITF bills the Davis Cup as the World Cup of tennis, but for many players, including Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov, it’s just another stop on a grueling schedule.
In the past, both players have waved the flag and spoken of their pride in representing their country. But as players protect their ratings and juggle the fine line between punishing their bodies and getting the rest they need, patriotism often takes a backseat to personal goals.
That is the case for Auger-Aliassime this year. The group stage closely follows the conclusion of the US Open and is the week before the Laver Cup, which features Auger-Aliassime as the star of Team Rest of the World, who take on Team Europe at London’s O2. . This is a mock exhibition event that is popular because it offers guaranteed appearance money and the chance to hang out with Roger Federer.
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Auger-Aliassime will not be the only big name in the Laver Cup. It will also feature Spain’s Rafael Nadal, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, Britain’s Andy Murray and Americans Jack Sock and Taylor Fritz, although the two Americans have also committed to dispute the Davis Cup. The enigmatic Aussie Nick Kyrgios skips both the Davis Cup and the Laver Cup.
The absence of Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov from the Davis Cup is disappointing because Canada would be competitive if they were in the lineup.
In 2019, when the ITF introduced a format that brought the top teams together in one place for a week of competition, Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov represented Canada and reached the final before losing to Spain.
And they were front and center in January when they won the ATP Cup in Australia. This is another unexpected addition to the tour and what is basically meant to be a warm-up for the Australian Open threatens to overshadow the Davis Cup in the eyes of the players.
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As someone who has covered Davis Cup qualifiers in places like Havana, Asuncion, Paraguay and Malaga, Spain, I’m not too keen on the idea of having teams based in one place. Under the old format, the host team could choose the surface and the passionate, some would say fanatic, crowds could make all the difference. The round-robin phase now includes four groups, each playing in a different city. The top two teams from each group will advance to the round of 16 in Malaga in November.
But Canada could play the next few games on ice and would not have a chance to snowball in Inuvik with the team named on Monday.
The team, which will play Serbia, Spain and South Korea in the opening round robin, is led by Vasek Pospisil, a veteran on the downside of his career, and Alexis Galarneau de Laval, a 2021 graduate of North Carolina State who has a Davis Cup match. under his belt.
The only thing you need to know about the other members of the team: Montrealer Gabriel Diallo, Liam Draxl of Newmarket, Ontario. and Cleeve Harper from Calgary, will they get a free European trip before resuming their college careers in the US?
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Auger-Aliassime, Shapovalov lead Canada to ATP Cup triumph
