OSIJEK, February 2, 2018 (Press Release)

Team Canada Captain, Frank Dancevic, made a change to his line-up for the first rubber of this Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group first round tie between Canada and Croatia. Peter Polansky, who was set to play against Borna Coric, will be replaced by Vasek Pospisil.

“Peter had an elbow injury when he arrived in Osijek. At first, the pain was tolerable but kept getting worse as the week was progressing,” stated Dancevic. “He did a few tests yesterday and the doctor and I thought it would be best for him not to play. I was not confident that he would be able to last if the match would have gone to 5 sets. You always have to be ready for anything in a David Cup tie. Being a Davis Cup experienced player, Vasek is ready to take over and give everything on court to get this first point.”

Pospisil, who is currently ranked world No. 85, just won his 5th title on the ATP Challenger Tour in Rennes, France. The 27-year-old started his Davis Cup career in 2008 and now has a record of 17 wins to 14 losses.

Denis Shapovalov will play the second singles match of this tie against world No. 181 Viktor Galovic.

A victory would see Canada progress to the quarterfinals and take on the winner between Switzerland and Kazakhstan in April, while a loss would send the nation to a World Group play-off tie in September to maintain its place in the World Group for 2019. Team Canada is competing in the prestigious World Group for a seventh straight year in 2018, a Canadian record, having reached the semi-finals in 2013 and the quarterfinals in 2015.