Overview
Team Canada presented by IGA is back in Montreal for the second year in a row as they host Hungary in the Davis Cup Qualifiers first round. The tie will take place at IGA Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 1 and Sunday, Feb. 2
The tie will be best-of-five matches, with each match being best-of-three sets. The winning nation will advance to the Davis Cup Qualifiers second round in September.
Last year, having not hosted a home tie in Davis Cup in over five years, Canada defeated the Republic of Korea 3-1 in Montreal to advance to the Davis Cup Finals Group Stage.
Schedule:
Saturday, Feb. 1: Two singles matches
Doors open: 11:30 am
Matches start: 12:45 pm
Sunday, Feb. 2: A doubles match, followed by at least one singles match. If necessary, a second singles match will determine the final outcome.
Doors open: 10:00 am
Matches start: 11:00 am
Click here for more details about the event and to get tickets.
The Teams
Four of the five men who represented Canada a year ago are back in Montreal this time around. Gabriel Diallo, Alexis Galarneau, Liam Draxl, and Vasek Pospisil are all returning for the hosts. Denis Shapovalov joins the team for the 2025 qualifiers first round. The squad is captained by Frank Dancevic.
Diallo, Galarneau, and Pospisil were a part of Team Canada at every stage of the 2024 Davis Cup. Shapovalov represented Canada at the Finals, both in the group stage and Final 8.
CLICK HERE to meet the members of Team Canada.
Standing in Canada’s way is Team Hungary. The Hungarians are led by world No. 59 Fabian Maroszan and No. 99 Marton Fucsovics. Joining the two Top 100 players are No. 527 Peter Fajta, No. 633 Mate Valkusz, and No. 1421 Adam Jilly. Hungary is captained by Kornel Bardoczky.
This will be the first meeting between Canada and Hungary in Davis Cup competition. Hungary has never qualified for the Davis Cup Finals since the format was changed in 2019 and had never won a World Group tie prior to the switch. Canada is just over two years removed from winning the title in 2022.
Read also: January Mailbag – Tom Tebbutt on Rising Stars and Experiences with Legends
2024 Qualifiers in Montreal
It is the second year in a row that Montreal is hosting a Davis Cup qualifiers tie in February.
Having not played at home in over five years, Team Canada held their first Davis Cup tie on home soil when they were drawn to play the Republic of Korea and won the lottery to host the tie.
Despite being without their top two players, the Canadian squad defeated the Republic of Korea 3-1 to advance to the 2024 Davis Cup Finals group stage. Gabriel Diallo was the hero in his hometown, winning a pair of singles matches including the clinching point. Vasek Pospisil added a singles win.
2024 Davis Cup Finals
Group Stage
Drawn in Group D for the Group Stage in Manchester, the full-strength Canadian squad led by Félix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov cruised to the top of the group, winning all three of their ties against Argentina, Finland, and Great Britain, going 7-2 in matches overall and not losing a set in singles all week to punch their ticket to the Final 8.
Final 8
For the second time in three years in Malaga, Canada faced off with Germany in the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup. Shapovalov, Diallo, Galarneau, Pospisil, and Milos Raonic represented Canada, although only Shapovalov and Diallo played in Southern Spain.
Canada was unable to recreate their 2022 victory over the Germans, losing both singles matches to see their 2024 Davis Cup campaign end in the last eight.
Tickets for the Davis Cup Qualifiers 1st Round tie between Canada and Hungary are now on sale. Join us February 1 and 2 at IGA Stadium in Montreal, as the Canadian team begins their quest for the 2025 Davis Cup Final 8. To access tickets at early-bird pricing, click here.
