Davis Cup | Félix Auger-Aliassime will not represent Canada; Diallo and Galarneau chosen

(Montreal) Canada will be without a key player in its Davis Cup qualifying first-round duel against Hungary next month.

Quebecer Félix Auger-Aliassime will be conspicuous by his absence during this clash which will take place on 1^is and February 2 at the IGA stadium in Montreal.

Tennis Canada announced Monday morning that Quebecers Gabriel Diallo and Alexis Galarneau, as well as Ontarians Denis Shapovalov and Liam Draxl as well as British-Columbian Vasek Pospisil will face Hungary, 22^e in the world. This will be the first clash between the two countries.

They will face Hungarians Fabian Morozan, Marton Fucsovics, Zsombor Piros, Mate Valkusz and Adam Jilly. Of the group, only Morozan (no. 57) and Fucsovics (no. 100) are in the world top 100.

Last year, Ontario’s Milos Raonic, along with Diallo, Galarneau, Draxl and Pospisil, represented the country in a 3-1 qualifying victory over South Korea.

“Winning our qualifying match last year at IGA Stadium was an extraordinary experience, and we look forward to playing again in front of the passionate Montreal crowd,” Canadian captain Frank Dancevic said in a press release.

Shapovalov will be at 12^e participation in the Davis Cup. The Ontarian, 58^e world racket, is two victories away from reaching the plateau of 20 (18-11) in his career, a feat achieved by only five Canadians.

As for Diallo, who is at 87^e world level, he will be part of the Canadian team for the eighth time in his career. The 23-year-old Montrealer has a 4-5 record at the Davis Cup. He scored his first victory in the 2023 round robin, defeating Italian Lorenzo Musetti.

For his part, Galarneau, who currently occupies 200^e ATP ranking, has a 5-5 record in this prestigious men’s team tennis competition.

Canada, third in the world rankings, has a record of nine victories in its last 10 home matches in this prestigious men’s team tennis competition.

The winning country will advance to the second and final round of qualifying in September, while the loser will be relegated to World Group 1.

Auger-Aliassime, 29^e world player, recently participated in the United Cup tennis tournament in Perth, Australia, and he is soon to begin his singles journey at the international tournament in Adelaide.