Workforce Canada introduced by IGA’s bid for a day two comeback within the Davis Cup Qualifiers 1st Spherical got here up simply brief on Sunday in Montreal as Hungary held off the Canadians for a 3-2 win.
A doubles victory by Liam Draxl and Vasek Pospisil within the opening match adopted by a singles upset for Gabriel Diallo within the No. 1 singles match levelled the tie for Canada after they misplaced each matches on Saturday. However Marton Fucsovics proved too robust for Alexis Galarneau within the fifth and deciding match, successful in two units to clinch the tie for Hungary.
It’s Canada’s first Davis Cup defeat on house soil since 2017. Workforce Canada will now should play within the Davis Cup World Group I in September with the intention to get again to the qualifiers for 2026.
To begin the day, Draxl and Pospisil saved the hosts alive within the tie by successful the doubles match over Peter Fajta and Mate Valkusz in straight units.
As he so typically has over his lengthy profession, Pospisil got here up clutch when his nation wanted him, this time alongside debutant Draxl who dazzled in his first match for Workforce Canada. The Canadians have been on the entrance foot all through and by no means trailed within the 7-6(2), 6-4 win.
The stress is now on Gabriel Diallo, who should beat Fabian Marozsan within the battle of singles No. 1s with the intention to maintain Canada’s comeback bid alive.
For many of the first set, the servers have been capable of cruise. The one take a look at a break for both workforce got here within the eighth recreation with Valkusz serving. The Hungarian double-faulted at deuce to arrange a break level, however he redeemed himself with an enormous serve that Pospisil returned into the online.
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Draxl and Pospisil have been taking part in collectively for the primary time ever in a aggressive match and, regardless of additionally being at reverse ends of their Davis Cup careers, confirmed immediate chemistry with the veteran’s poise and the teen’s power and slick palms.
One other double fault from the Hungarians within the tiebreak gave the Canadians a fast 2-1 lead that they by no means relinquished. At 4-1, Draxl took over the breaker with some spectacular internet play. Two wonderful volleys gave the Canadians a set level, which Pospisil completed off with an ace.
The Canadians put their foot on the fuel to start out the second set, breaking for an early 2-1 lead. The Hungarians had an opportunity to get again in it after they led 15-40 on Pospisil’s serve within the sixth recreation, however the veteran delivered one in every of his basic moments of Davis Cup magic, reeling off 4 consecutive unreturnable serves to maintain the Canadians forward.
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Fittingly, it got here right down to Pospisil to serve out the match at 5-4. Previous to the tie, the 34-year-old stated this can be his final time taking part in for Workforce Canada and whether it is, he went out with a bang. In his closing service recreation, Pospisil raced forward 40-love and capped off the win with an ace on the second match level.
Dialled-In Diallo Does His Job
So as to maintain Canada alive, Gabriel Diallo wanted to upset Hungarian No. 1 Fabian Marozsan, ranked virtually 30 spots above the Canadian within the ATP rankings, within the first singles match of the day. Diallo did so in model, cruising previous the artful Hungarian in simply over an hour.
The Canadian No. 1 got here out swinging and by no means let up the stress. Marozsan couldn’t grasp with Diallo and the Canadian was capable of prolong the tie with a powerful 6-1, 6-3 win.
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Diallo picked up the place his doubles workforce left off, breaking Marozsan within the opening recreation of the match. Within the first set, he had a tough time consolidating every time he broke however he was capable of grasp robust.
In his first service recreation, the Canadian saved a break level with an enormous serve. After breaking for a second time to go up 4-1, he needed to face three break factors with the intention to consolidate, however he was capable of finding the large pictures he wanted on every event.
He saved up the stress to start out the second set and was as soon as once more rewarded with an early break to take a 2-0 lead, however Marozsan was not going away quietly. As soon as once more Diallo struggled to consolidate and this time, the Hungarian succeeded in instantly reclaiming the break.
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The pair settled right into a back-and-forth within the second set, though Diallo was persevering with to assault at each alternative, taking part in fully fearless tennis. His gutsy play was rewarded late within the set, breaking to like to go up 5-3. The Canadian promptly served out the match to like, having received the final 12 factors in a row.
Galarneau Overpowered by Fucsovics
All of it got here right down to the fifth and closing match of the tie between Canada’s Alexis Galarneau and Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics. Each males introduced their A-game in an exhilarating encounter that was determined by the narrowest of margins. In the long run, Fucsovics’ capacity to persistently blast the ball with out committing too many errors proved an excessive amount of for the Canadian to deal with and Hungary took the ultimate match in straight units 7-6(8), 6-4 to win the tie.
Sluggish begins have been an issue for Galarneau in his Saturday match and so they dogged him once more on Sunday. In his second service recreation, the Canadian netted a half-volley to go down break level and Fucsovics did what he does greatest, teeing off of some balls to attract an error and safe a fast 2-1 lead.
However Galarneau responded not lengthy after. Within the sixth recreation, after narrowly lacking a break again level at 30-40, he ripped a return winner for a re-assessment and this time received an unbelievable rally, ending on the internet to get again on serve.
The roller-coaster of a set continued within the subsequent recreation, with Galarneau saving 5 break factors to maneuver forward 4-3. He then had an opportunity to take a break lead of his personal however Fucsovics jammed him with a physique serve.
A dramatic set was concluded with a dramatic tiebreak filled with lengthy, cat-and-mouse rallies. Fucsovics had a pair of set factors up 6-4 however did not convert. Galarneau had an opportunity of his personal at 7-6 however Fucosvics erased it with an enormous serve. After saving one other set level to get to 8-8, Galarneau lastly cracked for good, lacking back-to-back pictures to drop the opening set.
Galarneau was not going to go away quietly. At 1-1, after lacking his first break level probability, he confirmed unbelievable persistence to hold in a rally dominated by Hungarian, ultimately drawing an error. On the following break level, Fucsovics netted a forehand to present the Canadian a glimmer of hope.
Sadly, it didn’t final. Within the eighth recreation, a few forehand errors value Galarneau and he handed the break again to degree the set at 4-4. Then serving to remain within the match, he cracked once more beneath the Hungarian’s onslaught. Some huge hitting from Fucsovics created a trio of match factors and on the third, the Canadian despatched a backhand into the online to give up the match and the tie.
Canada now awaits the draw for the World Group I ties in September. Canada must win that home-and-away tie with the intention to get again to the qualifiers for 2026.
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