Félix Auger-Aliassime and Vasek Pospisil know they won’t have it easy at the group stage of the Davis Cup Finals this week in Valencia, Spain. The Canadian team finds itself in the same group as Serbia and Spain, two of the headliners, as well as South Korea.
The two know, however, that nothing is won in advance in the Davis Cup and therefore do not suffer from any complex on the eve of their first match against South Korea.
Auger-Aliassime, who confirmed his presence on the Canadian team last week, notes that Serbia and Spain are betting on players who have a lot of experience in this type of competition and who have often won.
“They really have the possibility of playing several players who are all very good, some against whom I won, others against whom I lost,” he admitted at a press conference on Tuesday. It’s always a very big challenge to play against complete teams like that. »
“But we are also a team that is not easy to face, and we have proven it in the past,” he added, referring in particular to the course of 2019, during which Canada made it to face Spain in the final. “If we can each play our best tennis, we can do very good things. I feel that I have the possibility of winning against anyone. »
“It is one of the most difficult groups, with Serbia and Spain, also recognized Pospisil, who is in his 24e presence in the Davis Cup. At least Novak Djokovic is not playing. Each game looks tough. At the end of the day, every time we show up on the pitch, we’re going to try to win. »
Canadian captain Frank Dancevic has confirmed that he will be counting on his two best players, Auger-Aliassime and Pospisil, for the singles. Laval resident Alexis Galarneau and Montrealer Gabriel Diallo, who is making his Davis Cup debut, complete the team.
Right mindset
Auger-Aliassime, eliminated in the second round at the recent United States Open, assures that he has turned the page on this bitter defeat and that he approaches this new adventure in the Davis Cup with a positive state of mind.
“For sure I suffered a disappointing and difficult defeat in New York. It’s not the first time in my career and not the last time I’ve suffered a tough defeat in an important tournament. I have no problem with that. »
“My level was pretty good in the last few months. There are losses that I didn’t like, but I did well this summer between the Los Cabos tournament and the Cincinnati tournament. There have been a lot of positives this year. Being here is another opportunity to play games, prepare well and arrive ready and win. Every Davis Cup, you can bring the best things for your team. »
On Friday, Canada have an appointment with Spain, and the new darling of tennis, Carlos Alcaraz, champion of the Open of the United States and new world number one, is supposed to be there. Auger-Aliassime called the Spaniard’s victory in New York on Sunday a “tremendous achievement”, and added that a clash against him would be a good test of his level.
“Any challenge is welcome. This week is another one, bringing victories to my team and trying to go all the way. »
Auger-Aliassime is playing in the Davis Cup for the fourth time in his career, and he admitted that he still enjoys representing Canada in this competition, even if he waited until the end of his trip in New York before confirming Her presence. And with young Galarneau and Diallo, who will gain experience in this adventure, he believes that the future of the country is promising.
“I always had a desire to play for Canada from an early age. We must not forget where we come from and the importance of playing the Davis Cup when we can. »
“I think we have the opportunity to start building something very good for the years to come. Vasek obviously has a lot of experience, but with Alexis and Gabriel, two young players finishing college and starting their careers on the tour, we have the opportunity to start building a solid team for the years to come. »
After the games against South Korea on Tuesday and Spain on Friday, it will be Serbia’s turn on Saturday. Under the new Davis Cup formula, the group stage takes place in four cities: Valencia, Bologna, Hamburg and Glasgow.
At the end of this stage, the first two countries from each of the four groups will qualify for the final phase, scheduled for November 21-27 in Malaga, Spain.