For the first time in 12 years, a Davis Cup duel will be played in Montreal, but the presence of Félix Auger-Aliassime remains uncertain.
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It is still too early to know whether the top Canadian tennis player – Félix is ranked 29th in the world – will face South Korea in this qualifying match on February 2-3 at the IGA Stadium.
“The decision has not yet been made,” his agent, Bernard Duchesneau, said in an email to the Journal on Thursday.
Last season, after the Australian Open that ended at the end of January, the “FAA” tried in vain to defend the title it won in 2022 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands (mid-February).
The 23-year-old Quebecer is spoiled for choice. ATP 250 tournaments held indoors on hard courts are in France, Montpellier (January 29 to February 4) and Marseille (February 5 to 11), and Dallas, Texas (5 to 11). February) planned. At the same time, an outdoor competition on clay will take place in Argentina, specifically before the ATP 500 event in Rotterdam (February 12-18).
“FAA” won one of his five ATP titles in February 2022 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. AFP
Opportunities for Diallo and Galarneau
This is the first time since 2012 that the Canadian men's team will play in the metropolis of Quebec. At the time, no representative from La Belle Province was part of the team that defeated South Africa 4-1. In attendance were Ontarions Frank Dancevic (now team captain), Daniel Nestor and Milos Raonic, as well as British Columbian Vasek Pospisil.
The scenario could be different in February, as Auger-Aliassime, Gabriel Diallo and Alexis Galarneau have all worn the colors in recent months for the Maple Leaf, which lost to Finland in the quarterfinals in November. “FAA” didn’t play injured.
Members of the Canadian Davis Cup team last November: Milos Raonic, Vasek Pospisil, Alexis Galarneau, Gabriel Diallo, Félix Auger-Aliassime and the captain Frank Dancevic. AFP
The Canadians were therefore unable to retain the Silver Bowl, which they had won the previous year by defeating Australia in the final.
Auger-Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov and their teammates clearly eliminated South Korea on the way to the country's first Davis Cup title.
Canada's players, including Félix Auger-Aliassime (right), celebrate their Davis Cup triumph in November 2022. Photo AFP
Rivals within reach
“We are excited to return to Canada and have the chance to play in front of our fans,” Dancevic said in a news release from Tennis Canada on Thursday. We know the South Koreans will be tough opponents and we need the support of the Canadian fans to advance to the round robin.”
Canada is second in the Davis Cup rankings while South Korea is ranked 18th, led by Soonwoo Kwon, 197th in the world in singles, and JiSung Nam, 127th in doubles.
“Montreal has demonstrated its love for tennis time and time again and we can’t wait to feel that passion and support when our star players take the court at IGA Stadium,” said the National Bank of Montreal Open director. Valérie Tetreault.
–With the QMI agency