Canadian rising star Gabriel Diallo leads the five-member team for Canada’s Davis Cup qualifier against Brazil next month at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Joining Diallo on the squad are Liam Draxl from Newmarket, Ont., Alexis Galarneau from Laval, Que., Nicolas Arsenault from Richmond Hill, Ont., and Cleeve Harper from Calgary, as announced by Tennis Canada in a news release on Monday.
The Davis Cup first-round tie is scheduled for Feb. 6-7 at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre. Diallo is slated to make his 10th consecutive appearance in the Davis Cup. After breaking into the top 100 of the ATP Tour’s world rankings in 2024, he secured his first ATP Tour title at the Libema Open last year.
The outcome of the tie will determine which country progresses to the second qualifying round in September. The seven victorious teams from the second round will join Italy, the host and defending champion, in the Davis Cup Final 8 in November. The Canada-Brazil tie will kick off with two singles matches, followed by a doubles match and two more singles matches on the second day.
Canadian captain Frank Dancevic expressed his satisfaction with the strong team selection for the upcoming Davis Cup tie in Vancouver. He emphasized the team’s determination to bounce back after not reaching the final stage last year and expressed confidence in facing the challenge posed by the Brazilian team.
The Canadian team, which claimed the Davis Cup in 2022, advanced to the first qualifying round by defeating Israel 4-0 in a World Group I tie last September in Halifax. Draxl holds the 132nd spot in the latest singles rankings, while Galarneau is ranked 213th, Arsenault sits at 501st, and Harper is placed 94th in doubles rankings. Gabriel Diallo clinched his first career ATP Tour title by defeating Zizou Bergs of Belgium at the Libema Open.
This match is highly anticipated by tennis fans, with Canada aiming to secure a victory over Brazil and advance further in the Davis Cup tournament.