MONTREAL, September 20, 2017 (Press Release)
It was on Wednesday that the International Tennis Federation (ITF) held the official draw for the 2018 season of Davis Cup by BNP Paribas and Fed Cup by BNP Paribas in London. Canada’s opponents have been revealed for both ties, which are scheduled for February 2018. The Canadian Davis Cup team will face Croatia, in the World Group first round from February 2 to 4, a tie which will take place in Croatia. The Canadian Fed Cup team will take on Romania, who will host the first round tie of the World Group II on February 10 and 11. The choice of surface and the site as well as the player nominations will be determined at a later date.
After overcoming India by a score of 3-2 last weekend, Canada secured its place in the World Group for the seventh consecutive year. The Canadian team, which had reached the semi-finals in 2013, will begin it’s 2018 campaign against Croatia, the finalist in 2016. This will be the first encounter between the two nations. Canada’s talent pool is becoming increasingly deeper, with three players now in the Top 100 and five in the Top 200, in addition to having experienced doubles players. Canada is currently ranked 15th in the world, while Croatia is 5th. The winner of this tie will qualify for the World Group quarter-finals, which will take place in April 2018.
As for the Fed Cup, it was a young Canadian team led by Françoise Abanda and Bianca Andreescu who surprised Kazakhstan last April to book their ticket into the World Group II. Canada will take on Romania for the third time. At the last encounter between the two nations, which took place in Montreal in 2015, it was Romania who emerged victorious by a score of 3-2. The Canadian team is currently ranked 15th in the world, while Romania is ranked 12th. The winner of this tie will qualify for the World Group play-offs in April 2018.
DAVIS CUP WORLD GROUP FIRST ROUND TIES
February 2-4, 2018
FRANCE vs. Netherlands
Japan vs. ITALY *
Spain vs. GREAT BRITAIN
AUSTRALIA vs. Germany
Kazakhstan vs. SWITZERLAND
CROATIA vs. Canada *
SERBIA vs. United States
Hungary vs. BELGIUM
FED CUP WORLD GROUP II FIRST ROUND TIES
February 10-11, 2018
Slovakia vs. RUSSIA
Australia vs. UKRAINE
ROMANIA vs. Canada
ITALY vs. Spain
The host nations are listed first, the seeded nations are in capitals.
*Host nations determined by lot.
