MONTREAL, November 14, 2021 (Tennis Canada Press Release)
Tennis Canada confirmed on Sunday that Félix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov will not be joining Team Canada presented by Sobeys for the Davis Cup by Rakuten Finals on November 25. They will be replaced by Steven Diez.“I have to withdraw from the Davis Cup Finals and end my season. I have been dragging an injury for quite some time now and my doctor recommends a rest to allow me to heal this injury before starting the next season,” said Auger-Aliassime. “It is always with great pride that I represent my country and therefore it is not a decision that I have taken lightly. The team has all of my support and I wish them the best in Madrid.”“Unfortunately, I will not take part in the Davis Cup Finals,” said Shapovalov following his loss in the final of the ATP 250 event in Stockholm. “It’s always a pleasure and an honour for me to represent my country in the Davis Cup, but I need some rest in the offseason.”“We know that Félix and Denis have always made the Davis Cup one of their top priorities since the beginning of their professional careers, and even before that since they had won the Junior Davis Cup for Canada in 2015,” commented Frank Dancevic, Team Canada Captain. “But it’s been a long and even more trying season due to the protocols and measures put in place to help combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and we completely understand their decision. We know that we can count on Félix and Denis’ support and leadership in the years to come. That said, we are delighted to have Steven (Diez) join us for the Finals. Although Steven doesn’t have much Davis Cup experience, he has proven time and time again that he’s an incredible team player and that he’s able to adapt to various situations.”Diez, 30, will make his second Davis Cup appearance for the Canadian team presented by Sobeys. His first nomination dates back to 2010 when Canada lost their Group I semi-final tie to Colombia. Currently ranked 259th in the ATP rankings, Diez managed to climb his way to No. 134 in November 2019. This year, he had his best result on the ATP tour, reaching the final of an ATP Challenger in Spain.This change in the lineup means Canada’s Davis Cup team for the Finals will now be represented by Vasek Pospisil, Brayden Schnur, Peter Polansky, and Diez. The competition will take place from November 25 to December 5. The early rounds will be played in three cities, Madrid (Spain), Innsbruck (Austria) and Turin (Italy). Team Canada will contest their Finals in Madrid and will start their competition against Sweden on November 25, and then will face Kazakhstan on November 28.Team Canada’s matches will be broadcast live on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.
