Oh Canada! Shapovalov and Auger-Aliassime not at the Davis Cup
Serious loss for the Canadian Davis Cup team: Neither Denis Shapovalov nor Félix Auger-Aliassime will take part in the 2021 final tournament.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Nov 15, 2021, 04:14 pm
In 2019, the Canadians around Denis Shapovalov in particular played their way into the final of the Davis Cup final sprint in Madrid - but in the current season, the maple leaves only have to be considered a blatant outsider. Because with Shapovalov and buddy Félix Auger-Aliassime, the two best players in the country canceled their participation in this year's final within a few hours.
Canada will initially face Kazakhstan and Sweden in Group B. A task that the new front man Vasek Pospisil could possibly also master. At the latest in the quarter-finals it would be too hairy.
Raonic is also not available
Shapovalov and Auger-Aliassime were still in action in Stockholm last week, where they met in the semifinals. With the better end for Shapovalov, who then lost to Tommy Paul in the final. The left-hander gave the reason for his cancellation that he needed a break. Auger-Aliassime, who is classified among the ten best players in the world for the first time this Monday, also complained about minor injuries that have been with him throughout the year.
Canada's Davis Cup captain Frank Dancevic was understanding. “It has been a long and demanding season, also because of all the protocols and measures that have been put in place to combat the COVID-19 virus. And we fully understand her decision, ”said Dancevic. “We know that we can count on the support of Félix and Denis in the future.” Steven Diez was initially nominated as a substitute. Milos Raonic, long-time number one in the Canadians, has been out of action for a long time due to an injury.
As can be heard from Turin, there is also a very big thought about his appearances in the Davis Cup final round: Novak Djokovic should consider joining the tournament in the quarter-finals. Serbia plays in Innsbruck in a group with Austria and Germany.