Canadian Tennis players are in Malaga for the Davis Cup, with the first intention of winning the tournament, as they did in 2022. But they are also aware that this competition, presented on Spanish soil, takes on a particular character.
Giant posters Thanks Rafa (thanks Rafa) cover the event site, invaded by even more journalists than usual, due to the retirement of Rafael Nadal, who will bow out at the conclusion of the tournament.
Alexis Galarneau, who is representing his country for the third time at this tournament, hopes to leave Spain with, yes, a medal in his luggage, but also a photo with his idol.
It’s impressive to live this week with him. He’s been my idol since I was young. It’s a great week, he says in an interview with - Sports. I would like to meet him, but he is in demand quite a bit. He has a lot of things on his schedule. Ideally, I would have the opportunity to take a photo with him, and in the future, talk to him briefly.
If he was the childhood hero of young Galarneau, 25 years old, he was also the opponent and evening partner of veteran Milos Raonic, 33 years old.
Antoine Deshaies is in Spain to attend Rafael Nadal’s last match in the Davis Cup.
Photo : Getty Images / AFP/JORGE GUERRERO
People know his very arduous side, very hardworking in the field. But he also knows how to have fun, says Raonic. After tournaments, I had the chance to spend time with him, especially in Spain. We went to see a Barcelona vs Madrid soccer match, we also had good evenings in Valencia.
He’s definitely capable of experiencing the fun side of things too. It’s quite a contrast to what we see of him on the field
adds Raonic, who crossed swords with Nadal 10 times, managing to defeat him twice.
Denis Shapovalov is also one of those who managed to beat Nadal, in an anthology match presented at the Rogers Cup in Montreal, in 2017.
It was a very special moment in my life, it was a bit of my blossoming, playing for the first time against one of the best players on the planet on one of the big stages of sport, remembers Shapovalov. Playing against Rafa was already special, and beating him was super special. We have fought several battles since.
Nadal has had a huge impact not only on tennis, but on the entire world
estime Shapovalov.
A huge hole in the tennis landscape
The retirement of Roger Federer had already transformed the face of tennis, in 2022, with the first departure of one of the Big Three. Of the three players who have outrageously dominated the sport for 15 years, only Novak Djokovic will remain when it comes time to win the Davis Cup.
It’s difficult to imagine the post-Nadal era, according to Raonic. His departure certainly leads us to reflect on the state of tennis and the fact that things are changing, he says. And to realize how privileged we were to have the three best players in history playing matches at the same time, in the same generation.
In other sports, like hockey, basketball or golf, it’s always a question of comparing the best across eras. There, it’s pretty clear who the three best in history are. And they were there at the same time.
We haven’t seen a golden era like this in any other sport
insists Raonic.
His teammate Vasek Pospisil, who was beaten in his two clashes against Nadal, agrees. He’s a legend of the sport and it’s hard to express how he changed tennis. He is a player who is bigger than tennis, bigger than sport.
His legacy will also go far beyond his 22 grand slam titles, and lives on through the many young players who have been inspired by his exploits.
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Milos Raonic and Rafael Nadal in 2019
Photo : Getty Images / Brendon Thorne
What I remember about him is above all his attitude, that of never giving up, mentions Galarneau. He is super humble. These are values that I appreciate, and these are qualities that I have always sought.
The Spaniards will play in the quarter-finals against the Dutch, while the Canadians will first face the Germans.
A victory for Spain and Canada would mean a clash between the two countries in the next round.
An Appreciation for Team Tournaments
The Davis Cup is the end point of a complicated season for Canadian players, but it comes at the right time with the good recent performances of Denis Shapovalov and Gabriel Diallo.
Shapovalov won his first title of theATP in five years, on November 9, in Serbia. Three weeks earlier, Diallo reached the first final of a tournament inATP of his career, losing in the final match in Kazakhstan.
There is a lot of enthusiasm in the team. We can’t wait to go play, and we arrive with full confidence
confirmed Montrealer Diallo.
Shapovalov finally says he is healthy and ready to attack. I’m playing the best tennis of my season right now, I feel like I’m back on track. Physically, I feel like I can finally push more, which wasn’t the case in the last year and a half due to my knee injury and rehab.
If there is one thing that Shapovalov would change in the current world of tennis, it is the dense schedule, which offers athletes little respite. But he would also like to see more team tournaments, if only to help the players morally. Sometimes you feel alone on the road. In team tournaments, the pressure is different, there is more fun. It takes the focus away from yourself. It’s positive.
With information from Antoine Deshaies
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