MONTREAL, February 3, 2024 (Tennis Canada Press Release)

Team Canada presented by Sobeys is on the verge of clinching a place in the Group Stage of the Davis Cup Finals after singles victories from Gabriel Diallo (Montreal, QC) and Vasek Pospisil (Vernon, BC) ensured they will take a 2 0 lead into the second day of their Qualifier tie against the Republic of Korea in Montreal.

“I had the confidence in my guys,” said Team Canada captain Frank Dancevic. “I felt that they were calm and I felt like they were going to come back in their matches. They’re both imposing guys with a lot of firepower and when they do find their game and they’re playing the right way, it’s really difficult to beat them indoors on these courts. They did a great job of doing that today. Vasek, in his match, he did a great job of playing his tennis, the way he plays, the way he’s won so many matches over the years. It’s not always easy to do in this Davis Cup setting but he found a way to do it and he gave us another point.”

Dancevic elected to pit Diallo against Korea’s Soonwoo Kwon, ranked No. 700 on the ATP Tour, marking their first-ever meeting. The Canadian, ranked No. 132, was playing in the first home tie of his career and made quick work of his opponent in front of a near sellout crowd of 2,082 fans at IGA Stadium. Beating Kwon 6-4, 6-4, and serving 11 aces in the process, Diallo clinched his third-career Davis Cup victory in singles with a patient performance.

“It’s what I work for,” Diallo said in his post-match press conference. “For me, there is no bigger moment than this. I’m from the city, from this neighbourhood. I live seven minutes away, grew up practicing here. Now, to be able to play here in front of all these amazing fans, my friends and family, that do not get to watch me a lot live in an atmosphere like this, where you’re representing Canada. For me, there’s no bigger stage than Davis Cup and I’m just really grateful and being nominated is a huge honor. I know that every time I get called to step on the court, whether it’s in Canada or away, I’m going to give everything I have and leave it all on the court.”

“I stayed composed when things weren’t looking too good,” Diallo remarked on his performance. “I was down a break in both sets and both times he was up 4-3, and I dragged it and made him think about it. I think I did a good job of staying there and not fading away. I got my looks and when I needed the points, I managed to convert the crucial breakpoints. So, I think the key today, I was really solid from the baseline, composed and played my game.”

In the second singles rubber, Pospisil faced Seongchan Hong in the second meeting of their careers. The Canadian won their previous matchup, a Davis Cup Group Stage rubber in 2022, en route to Canada clinching its first-ever title. Despite 262 ranking places separating them on the ATP Tour – Pospisil at No. 486 and Hong at No. 224 – it was the British Columbian who came out on top to clinch the 15th singles victory of his 16-year-and-counting Davis Cup career. The match finished 6-4, 6-3 in Pospisil’s favour with him winning 75% of points on his first serve.

Two to the good 🇨🇦@VasekPospisil prevails 6-4 6-3 against Hong to give the hosts a 2-0 lead in the tie 💪#DavisCup | @TennisCanada pic.twitter.com/3cU8DyKjHe

— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) February 3, 2024

“Definitely a little bit of experience and a little bit of playing in front of a home crowd,” said Pospisil during his post-match, on-court interview. “I had a tough year last year and, honestly, this is the first time I’ve been able to serve normally in a really long time, probably ten months. I felt much better right away, and I felt more comfortable out there. The crowd was amazing, and they really helped me out there today.”

On Saturday, an already sellout crowd will see Pospisil partner with Alexis Galarneau (Laval, QC) to take on Jisung Nam and Minkyu Song in the doubles rubber, knowing a win would seal Canada’s passage through to the Group Stage. That is followed by Diallo versus Hong and Pospisil against Kwon. However, if the tie is decided following the doubles rubber, the last singles rubber may not be contested.