Crew Canada’s depth has been on full show throughout the 2024 Davis Cup competitors. By way of 4 ties, 4 totally different males have gained singles matches for the nation.
For the third time in three rounds of the occasion this yr, Canada will likely be rolling with a unique mixture of gamers on the Davis Cup, however given the outcomes to this point, there is no such thing as a actual trigger for concern. Even with 4 totally different gamers having gotten the nod for a singles match, Canada is 9-0 in singles this yr on the Davis Cup with the lack of only one set.
Three of these 4 males, Denis Shapovalov, Gabriel Diallo, and Vasek Pospisil, will likely be in Malaga this November to attempt to deliver dwelling a second title in three years. Becoming a member of them are two gamers, Alexis Galarneau and Milos Raonic, with no scarcity of expertise and profitable pedigree at this occasion.
Let’s meet the boys of Crew Canada forward of the 2024 Davis Cup Remaining 8.
Denis Shapovalov
Rank: 78
Davis Cup Look: eleventh
Davis Cup Report: 18-10
2024 Report: 21-22
2024 has not been the bounce-back yr many could have hoped for from Denis Shapovalov, however he has been exhibiting indicators of progress over the previous couple of months.
The 25-year-old was sensible throughout the Davis Cup Group Stage in Manchester, profitable all three of his singles matches in straight units, together with the clinching level over Dan Evans in Canada’s ultimate tie towards Nice Britain. He added a doubles win towards Finland, ending the week 4-1 (a doubles loss towards Argentina within the opening tie).
Whereas he could not have absolutely carried that good kind via the autumn, he put up some good outcomes, together with qualifying for the Shanghai Masters and attending to the second spherical, in addition to reaching his second quarter-final of the season in Basel, the place he misplaced to the eventual champion Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. He adopted that up along with his finest run since October 2022, coming via qualifying to succeed in the ultimate on the ATP 250 occasion in Belgrade.
Shapovalov will likely be referred to as upon to play the function of Canadian No. 1 for the primary time at a Davis Cup tie for the reason that 2019 Finals, when he powered Canada into the ultimate with spectacular performances in singles and doubles.
Gabriel Diallo
Rank: 88
Davis Cup Look: seventh
Davis Cup Report: 4-4
2024 Report: 11-14
With Shapovalov and Félix Auger-Aliassime in attendance, Diallo’s lone match within the group stage was a useless doubles rubber on the ultimate day towards Nice Britain. However the large Montrealer has confirmed himself greater than able to stepping up for the nationwide workforce, together with earlier this yr when he scored two essential singles wins within the qualifying spherical to ship Canada to Manchester.
Since that journey to the UK, the 23-year-old has continued to make strides. He got here via qualifying at a Masters 1000 occasion for the primary time in Shanghai in October and added a few deep runs at ATP Challenger Tour Occasions.
However the spotlight was on the ATP 250 occasion in Almaty, Kazakhstan, the place Diallo reached his first ultimate on the ATP Tour. He beat a former Masters 1000 champion and two High 40 gamers on his strategy to the ultimate, the place he went toe-to-toe with veteran Karen Khachanov, developing simply quick in three units.
On account of the run in Almaty, Diallo broke into the High 100 on the ATP rankings for the primary time, even briefly leaping over Shapovalov earlier than Basel. His sport is effectively suited to the indoor courts in Malaga and he could profit from opening proceedings because the Canadian No. 2. In 4 of his 5 earlier singles matches in Davis Cup play, he was within the function of the nation’s No. 1 participant.
Alexis Galarneau
Rank: 216
Davis Cup Look: eighth
Davis Cup Report: 5-5
2024 Report: 2-3
Like Diallo, Galarneau was restricted to only one useless doubles match throughout September’s group stage. However the Lavallois has confirmed himself able to stepping up for his nation earlier than, most notably throughout the 2023 group stage when he gained two singles and three doubles matches.
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Since Manchester, Galarneau has been taking part in primarily on the Challenger Tour and has been comparatively constant, reaching the quarter-finals or higher at 4 of seven tournaments. His finest end result got here within the ultimate week of October when he reached the semifinals of the Charlottesville Challenger.
Galarneau has been probably the most constant presences on the Canadian Davis Cup workforce since making his debut in March 2022. He has not missed a tie for the reason that 2022 qualifiers towards the Netherlands, a streak of eight consecutive nominations which is the longest energetic streak of any participant on the Canadian squad.
Milos Raonic
Rank: 238
Davis Cup Look: sixteenth
Davis Cup Report: 19-6
2024 Report: 6-5
A yr in the past, the veteran was the brilliant spot for Canada within the Remaining 8, selecting up the lone level with a traditional, medical serving efficiency within the 2-1 quarter-final loss to Finland. Regardless of having not performed since July, he arrives in Malaga tied for probably the most singles wins by a Canadian in Davis Cup play with 17 (tied with Sébastien Lareau).
After making his return to the tour in 2023 after a multi-year absence, it has been a quiet 2024 for Raonic.
He has had some moments of brilliance, together with quarter-final runs in Rotterdam, the place he pushed soon-to-be world No. 1 Jannik Sinner laborious for a set earlier than having to retire, and in s-Hertogenbosch. He additionally set a tour document for many aces in a best-of-three match throughout his thrilling first-round win on the Queen’s Membership over Cameron Norrie.
However accidents have been an issue too. His first three tournaments of the yr ended with retirements and the final time his title appeared in a draw was in Montreal, the place he withdrew previous to his first-round match.
Raonic was meant to be a part of the workforce in Manchester however was pressured to withdraw as a result of a damaged toe. His final match was on the Paris Olympics in July, a three-tiebreak first-round loss to Dominik Koepfer.
Vasek Pospisil
Rank: 737
Davis Cup Look: twenty eighth
Davis Cup Report: 32-27
2024 Report: 1-1
It has been a gradual yr for the present Mr. Davis Cup as accidents are mounting up. Pospisil has been stop-start all season and has barely performed since September’s group stage. In reality, he has solely participated in a single match, reaching the second spherical of the ATP Challenger occasion in Calgary the place he misplaced to his Davis Cup teammate Galarneau.
Pospisil has not performed a tour occasion outdoors of Canada since April.
The one aggressive match he did play overseas of late was in Davis Cup play when he teamed up with Shapovalov in doubles towards Argentina.
Whereas he’ll arrive in Malaga with out a lot match play below his belt, Pospisil has a knack for defying the chances and taking part in his finest with the maple leaf on his chest. Two years in the past, he was a serious piece in Canada’s title run with deciding doubles victories in each the quarters towards Germany and semifinals towards Italy.
Crew Canada will open their marketing campaign in Malaga the identical method they did throughout the 2022 championship run, with a quarter-final towards Germany. The tie will happen on Nov. 20 at 12:00 pm native, 6:00 am EST.
Viewers can watch Crew Canada’s Davis Cup Remaining 8 ties at no cost on CBC Gem, cbcsports.ca, the CBC Sports activities app, and CBC Sports activities’ official YouTube channel. The ties may even be obtainable in French, as TVA Sports activities and TVA Sports activities Direct will likely be exhibiting Canada’s matchups, in addition to all semifinals and finals.
