Raonic Leads Canada’s Davis Cup Homecoming: Meet the Team

Photo : Tennis Canada

For the first time since 2018, the men of Team Canada presented by Sobeys will get to suit up and play in front of their home fans in Davis Cup competition.

The last time Canada hosted a Davis Cup tie was in 2018, when the Canadians defeated the Netherlands in Toronto to stay in the world group.

Two members of that squad are back five and bit years later, joined by three youngsters, including one who will don the red and white this week in Montreal for the first time as the Canadians host South Korea in the qualifying round.

Let’s meet Team Canada.

Milos Raonic

Rank: 306 (Protect Ranking: 33)
Davis Cup Ties Played: 13
Davis Cup Record: 19-6

Raonic made his return to Team Canada last November at the Davis Cup Final 8 in Malaga and was back with a bang, blowing away Patrick Kaukovalta in a classic serving clinic from the Missile.

2023 was a comeback year for Raonic, who had not played since 2021 due to injuries. On top of the brilliant performance in Malaga, he scored a Top 10 win over Frances Tiafoe on his way to the last 16 at the National Bank Open and had some good wins on grass, showing that when Raonic is feeling good, he is still extremely dangerous, especially on fast surfaces like the indoor one where the upcoming tie will be played.

The last appearance of Raonic for Team Canada prior to the 2023 Davis Cup Finals was also Canada’s last Davis Cup home tie. He did not drop a set in two singles matches as he led his country to a 3-1 win.

Gabriel Diallo

Rank: 132
Davis Cup Ties Played: 5
Davis Cup Record: 2-3

Diallo is a rising star on the Canadian tennis scene and really started to make his mark in 2023. All four of his Davis Cup singles matches last year were in the No. 1 position, stepping up while his teammates were injured.

The 22-year-old went 2-2 in those matches, using his massive serve and powerful groundstrokes to guide Canada to first place in Group A during the group stage. That included his first Top 20 win over Lorenzo Musetti in the defending champions’ sweep of Italy.

On the ATP Tour, he made his debut in 2023 and scored what was at the time his biggest win rankings-wise (prior to beating Musetti) over Dan Evans on home soil in Toronto. Diallo has already had some good results in 2024, including coming within a set of qualifying for his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open.

Alexis Galarneau

Rank: 211
Davis Cup Ties Played: 6
Davis Cup Record: 5-3

Galarneau is entering his third year representing his country at the Davis Cup, having made his debut in 2022. Like Diallo, he saw his role greatly expanded in 2023 and the 24-year-old was up to the challenge. In the group stage, Galearneau went 5-0, with two singles wins and three doubles victories.

Also like Diallo, he picked up his biggest career win during the tie with Italy, his first Top 40 victory against Lorenzo Sonego. Injuries slowed Galarneau down in the late stages of 2023, but in the summer he scored his first ATP Challenger title on home soil in Granby. This will be his first time playing Davis Cup at home.

Liam Draxl

Rank: 398
Davis Cup Ties Played: Making Debut

The youngest member of the Canadian team will be donning the red and white for his country for the first time in Davis Cup competition. Draxl only turned pro in June 2023 after a successful four-year run in the NCAA playing for the University of Kentucky Wildcats.

During his NCAA career, he was a two-time All-American and held the No. 1 ranking in 2021. That same year, he was named ITA (Intercollegiate Tennis Association, the governing body of college tennis in the United States) Player of the Year.

On the pro circuit, he has five titles to his name, with the biggest coming on home soil last November when he won his first ATP Challenger Tour title in Calgary.

Vasek Pospisil

Rank: 486
Davis Cup Ties Played: 32
Davis Cup Record: 31-25

Pospisil is the most experienced Davis Cup player on the team, having participated in more ties than his four teammates combined. He has only missed two possible appearances in the last five years and has missed just four out of a potential 26 nominations since he became a regular with the national team in 2011.

The man from Vernon, B.C, has the second most total match wins of any Canadian for the Davis Cup squad all-time, trailing only Daniel Nestor.

His heroics played a key role in Canada’s 2022 title run, including two decisive doubles wins in the group stage and two more in the Final 8. In 2023, he went 4-0 in the group stage in Bologna with three doubles wins and one in singles. While injuries have limited his play on tour over recent months, Pospisil always brings his best when representing his country.

Canada’s tie with South Korea will take place on Friday, Feb. 2 and Saturday, Feb. 3,

Written By

Pete Borkowski