The band is lastly again collectively.
For the primary time since hoisting the trophy in November 2022, Canada is sending the identical mixture of gamers that claimed the title to a Davis Cup tie as Félix Auger-Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov, Gabriel Diallo, Alexis Galarneau, and Vasek Pospisil can be representing the nice white north on the upcoming Davis Cup Finals group stage in Manchester.
Forward of the upcoming ties, let’s meet up with the boys who can be donning the pink and white.
*Rankings are from earlier than the US Open
Félix Auger-Aliassime
Rank: 19
Davis Cup Look: seventh
Davis Cup File: 9-4
2024 File: 27-20
The final ball Auger-Aliassime struck for Group Canada in Davis Cup competitors was an enormous forehand that drew an error from Alex de Minaur to clinch the 2022 title for Canada.
Whereas he was on the group final November in Malaga, accidents prevented the Canadian No. 1 from competing, which means Manchester can be his first time taking part in for Canada since that historic victory in 2022. The Montrealer is at present on a five-match profitable streak on the Davis Cup.
Ever since his scorching run to finish that season, it has been a curler coaster for Auger-Aliassime. In 2024, he reached his first Masters 1000 remaining in Madrid and had a powerful Olympic run, profitable bronze in blended doubles and ending fourth in singles. However he has additionally had some struggles, together with a current first-round loss on the US Open.
Certainly he can be completely happy to be again on the indoor onerous courts, the place he has been among the many world’s finest during the last two years. All 5 of his profession ATP Tour titles are on the floor and he was nearly unbeatable indoors within the fall of 2022, going 17-5 within the fall indoors, beating then-world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz twice.
Learn additionally: Sustaining Momentum from the Nationwide Financial institution Open to the US Open
That spectacular run within the fall of 2022 began with a powerful efficiency on the Davis Cup Finals group stage. He’ll hope for a repeat in 2024.
Denis Shapovalov
Rank: 105
Davis Cup Look: tenth
Davis Cup File: 14-9
2024 File: 15-19
Like Auger-Aliassime, the final time Shapovalov performed a match for Group Canada on the Davis Cup was in the course of the remaining of the 2022 marketing campaign when he beat Thanasi Kokkinakis in straight units to arrange the Montrealer’s title-sealing win.
Shapovalov was part of the group that dominated the group stage in Bologna final 12 months however a knee harm saved him on the bench. His 2024 season has been a troublesome comeback from that harm.
He has had some good flashes, together with reaching the third spherical of massive tournaments like Miami, Madrid, Roland-Garros, and Wimbledon, however consistency has eluded the previous world No. 10. Now ranked simply outdoors the High 100, Shapovalov is looking for wins in Manchester as he arrives on a three-match dropping streak, together with a first-round loss on the US Open.
Additionally like his countryman, Shapovalov ought to benefit from the situations in Manchester. His aggressive recreation is properly suited to the fast, indoor floor the place the group can be taking part in. He has succeeded indoors for Canada at Davis Cup previously, most famously on the 2019 Finals when he carried the nation to their first remaining in a century.
Gabriel Diallo
Rank: 143
Davis Cup Look: fifth
Davis Cup File: 4-3
2024 File: 2-4
Diallo is the recent hand for Canada coming into Manchester, recent off a career-best run a tour-level occasion. And never simply any occasion, his first time profitable consecutive matches on the primary tour (outdoors of Davis Cup) occurred to come back on the Grand Slam degree as he reached the final 32 of the US Open as a qualifier.
Having made his debut within the 2022 group stage, the 22-year-old’s breakthrough got here throughout Canada’s 2023 marketing campaign the place he performed the function of singles No. 1 in all three group stage ties and within the Ultimate 8 quarter-finals.
In Bologna, he went 2-1 because the Canadian No. 1 together with his first High 20 victory over Lorenzo Musetti in straight units regardless of the Italian being 130 spots above him within the rankings and taking part in in entrance of a house crowd.
Arriving in Manchester recent off his run in New York, which included one other High 30 win over Arthur Fils, and with an ATP Challenger title earlier in the summertime, he can be at a career-high rating simply outdoors the High 100 on Monday forward of the start of the group stage.
Alexis Galarneau
Rank: 220
Davis Cup Look: seventh
Davis Cup File: 5-4
2024 File: 19-17 (ATP Challenger Tour)
All 5 of Galarneau’s victories in Davis Cup play got here final 12 months within the group stage when he delivered an all-time efficiency with two singles wins over gamers ranked not less than 75 spots above him, together with a High 40 win over Lorenzo Sonego, and received all three of his doubles matches as Canada topped the group.
Accidents delayed the beginning of the season for the Lavalois, who truly performed his first match of the 12 months in Davis Cup throughout Canada’s qualifying spherical tie with South Korea in Montreal. He and Vasek Pospisil had been crushed within the doubles match.
Early within the comeback, Galarneau had a scorching run the place he reached the quarter-finals at 4 consecutive ATP Challenger occasions, all in Mexico, in March/April, together with a remaining in Mexico Metropolis. He reached two extra quarter-finals within the spring and really almost certified for the Nationwide Financial institution Open in Montreal, dropping a heartbreaker in a third-set tiebreak within the remaining spherical of qualifying.
Galarneau was added late to the group for the upcoming group stage as a alternative for the injured Milos Raonic. He has not missed a Davis Cup tie for Canada since making his debut within the 2022 qualifiers.
Vasek Pospisil
Rank: 612
Davis Cup Look: thirty fourth
Davis Cup File: 32-26
2024 File: 1-1
Group Canada simply wouldn’t really feel full with out its present stalwart. Pospisil has missed simply 4 ties since 2011 and has not skipped one in over two years.
Accidents have began to meet up with the 33-year-old in 2024, limiting him to simply 18 complete matches this 12 months. He didn’t play from April to July and has solely performed two matches on the high degree of the tour this 12 months, each on house soil.
His lone main-tour match win this 12 months did are available Davis Cup play although, beating Seongchan Hong in straight units throughout Canada’s qualifying spherical win over Korea.
Regardless that he’s arriving in Manchester with out a lot match play, Pospisil has at all times discovered one other gear when representing his nation. Look no additional than the group stage final 12 months when he went 4-0.
Canada’s first match within the Davis Cup Finals group stage is on Sep. 10 towards Argentina. They face Finland on Sep. 12 and eventually the hosts Nice Britain on Sep. 15.
