MONTREAL, February 4, 2024 (Tennis Canada Press Release)
Team Canada presented by Sobeys has clinched its spot in the Group Stage of the Davis Cup Finals for the fifth straight year after defeating the Republic of Korea in a Qualifier tie in Montreal.
“It’s a great team we have, from the staff to the players, there’s so much that goes on behind the scenes to get these guys through the weekend and I feel like we have a lot of confidence in our team from the past five years of playing,” said team captain Frank Dancevic.
“We have a pretty good record in Davis Cup. We’ve had a lot of upsets and our team just feels like they can beat anybody, I truly feel that and that’s the way I feel on the bench. I don’t care who’s on the other side, I really truly feel like we can beat anybody in the world. So, it’s a great feeling to have, and we’re looking forward to the group stage in September and I’m very proud of everybody for their effort.”
After Gabriel Diallo (Montreal, QC) and Vasek Pospisil (Vernon, BC) earned singles victories in the first two matches on Friday, Pospisil teamed up with Alexis Galarneau (Laval, QC) for the doubles rubber with Team Canada needing just one more win in front of a sold-out crowd at IGA Stadium to secure the tie.
The Canadian duo were defeated in a tightly contested match versus Jisung Nam and Minkyu Song, losing 4-6, 7-6, 3-6. Song and Nam didn’t hold back against the Canadian duo, combining to hit 37 winners and converting on 75% of their first serves, helping keep the Republic of Korea’s hopes of advancing alive.
With Canada unable to clinch the tie in the doubles rubber, Diallo (No. 132) was once again called upon to face Seongchan Hong (No. 224) in the third singles rubber. After winning his match against Soonwoo Kwon on Friday, the 22-year-old Diallo was once again up to the task on Saturday with his eyes set on sending Canada to the Davis Cup Finals Group Stage for the fifth straight year. Diallo defeated Hong 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 in a lengthy two-and-a-half-hour match where the two players weren’t willing to give each other an inch. After splitting two tight opening sets, Diallo managed to pull away in the decisive third. Overall, he smashed nine aces and an incredible 45 winners, earning the fourth win of his Davis Cup career that began in 2022.
Diallo Delivers 🇨🇦
Gabriel Diallo completes his perfect weekend defeating Hong 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 to send Canada through to the Group Stage Finals 💪#DavisCup | @TennisCanada pic.twitter.com/kDKRARsNz6
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) February 4, 2024
“It was physical, we both weren’t missing much in the first set and a half, then I lost my level a little bit but then in the third set I started playing much more aggressive and the rallies were much shorter, which suits me better, and I think that’s why I got the job done today,” said Diallo in his post-match interview.
“Thank you to all the guys (on the team) that have so much experience, they made my job so much easier. They get me right before, they get me right during the match even when things aren’t looking great, they keep me calm and composed.”
Smooth moves on and off the court 🕺🇨🇦#DavisCup | @TennisCanada pic.twitter.com/louXnRmn0i
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) February 4, 2024
Canada will now await the draw for the Davis Cup Finals Group Stage to discover which countries they will face in September, 2024. At the group stage, 16 nations will compete in four groups of four across four different venues, with the winner and runner-up in each group advancing to the Davis Cup Final 8 Knockout Stage in Malaga, Spain in November, 2024.
