MONTREAL, February 2, 2025 (Tennis Canada Press Release)
Team Canada presented by IGA lost their first two matches against Hungary in their Davis Cup Qualifiers 1st Round tie, featuring victories from Hungarians Fabian Marozsan and Marton Fucsovics. The tie will resume on Sunday at IGA Stadium, starting with a doubles match between the duo of Liam Draxl (Newmarket, ON), and Vasek Pospisil (Vernon, BC) and Hungary’s Marozsan and Mate Valkusz.
“There’s no panic buttons going off right now in the locker room,” said Team Canada captain Frank Dancevic. “We’re not done, we haven’t lost yet, and our teams have always fought to the end. It’s not an easy task coming back from 2-0, but I’ve got a lot of confidence in this team that we can do it. So, we’re going to go in tomorrow and try to get that first point in doubles.”
Alexis Galarneau (Laval, QC) was drawn to play the first match of the day against Marozsan, world No. 56 and Hungary’s top-ranked player. In the tight encounter, Marozsan got off to a quicker start, breaking Galarneau right out of the gate en route to claiming the first set 6-3. In the second set, it was Galarneau who proved more solid, saving both break points he faced and converting his second break point opportunity to level the match at 1-1. Although both players raised their game in the decisive set, it was Marozsan who managed to edge out the Canadian to win the opening match 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
“He’s a complete player,” said Galarneau in his post-match press conference. “I think with both his forehand and backhand, he can generate power and be dangerous. But also his serve, I was surprised by it. I thought he served really precisely and mixed it up quite well – so all credit to him.”
In the day’s second match, Diallo, ranked 85th in the world, faced No. 96 Marton Fucsovics. It was the opposite of what happened in the first match, with the Canadian being the one who came out swinging. Diallo won 88 per cent of first serve points on his way to an early one-set lead. However, the tenacious Fucsovics was not to be denied, taking the second set in less than 30 minutes. In the third set, the Hungarian team came out on top again, as Fucsovics managed to break Diallo in the sixth game and fended off all five of the break points he faced.
A solid day for Hungary!
Marton Fucsovics defeats Gabriel Diallo 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 to give Hungary a 2-0 lead in the tie. #DavisCup | @HUNgarianTENNIS pic.twitter.com/0RrJ7Ag10M
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) February 1, 2025
“Of course, after losing that first match which could have gone either way, you look to get your team on the scoreboard,” said Diallo after his loss. “I started the match super well and had a few small opportunities in the beginning of the second set. For sure I started well, but at the Davis Cup, everything can change so quickly with the momentum swings, and unfortunately today it didn’t go my way.”
Canada will now need to win the remainder of their matches to advance to the Qualifiers 2nd Round in September. A loss on Sunday would mean heading to World Group I.
