(Montreal) Even though he was only two years old, Alexis Galarneau clearly expressed his displeasure when his mother took a bicycle with small wheels on the side out of the garage.
If his brothers rode two-wheeled bicycles, why not him too?
“He was insulted. He really said “no, no, no,” said his mother, Chantal. “He always wanted to be as good as his brothers.”
Her brothers Max-Olivier and Félix were 10 and 8 years old, but Chantal ended up giving in to the demands of her youngest.
“I took the wheels off and after two or three tries he was able to ride with just two wheels,” she said. I was like, “My God, that’s a Guinness record.” »
Twenty-two years later, Galarneau is fourth among Canadians in the ATP — 211e overall — and a member of the 2022 Davis Cup winning team.
The 24-year-old from Laval hopes to help his country regain the title after losing to Finland in the quarter-finals in 2023.
He will be on court in a Davis Cup qualifier against South Korea this week at Stade IGA, not far from where his tennis career took off.
Galarneau, alongside his best friend Félix Auger-Aliassime, watched from the stands the last time Canada played a Davis Cup event in Montreal.
Led by Milos Raonic, then world number 15, Canada beat South Africa 4-1 to reach the round of 16 in 2012.
Galarneau joins Raonic, Gabriel Diallo of Montreal, Vasek Pospisil of Vernon, British Columbia, and Liam Draxl of Newmarket, Ontario, on the Canadian team.
There will be two singles matches on Friday, followed the next day by two singles matches and a doubles match.
“You could really feel the passion and pride the players had to represent Canada,” Galarneau said of his experience in 2012. “I remember it inspired me to one day be part of that team -there. »
Galarneau also has an older sister, Émilie-Anne. Growing up as the youngest of four children shaped who he is today, Chantal says.
Everything his brothers did attracted young Galarneau, whether it was cycling, hockey (their father Éric reached major junior), soccer or speed skating.
At the age of eight, Galarneau picked up a racket after seeing his brothers play tennis at Champfleury Park in Laval.
“I watched them play and I wanted to get involved too,” Galarneau said. They immediately saw my potential, so they shared it with my parents. »
At age 11, Galarneau joined Tennis Canada’s national program in Montreal before leaving at 17 to attend North Carolina State University.
He was with the Wolfpack until 2021 and graduated with a degree in finance.
Last year he reached a career high in singles, 162ewon a Challenger in Granby and participated in the main draws of the Australian and United States Opens.
He beat Lorenzo Sonego in Canada’s Davis Cup group stage victory over Italy in September.
Every time I can perform and represent Canada on the world stage, I definitely have more motivation. It motivates me to play my best tennis, to play for my teammates, my country or my family.
Alexis Galarneau
Galarneau took time off at the start of the 2024 season to nurse an upper body injury.
He’s not yet sure how much action he’ll see against the South Korean team, but he’ll be ready if captain Frank Dancevic calls on him.
“I feel like I can take on a bigger role year after year,” said Galarneau, who is entering his third year on the Davis Cup team.
Unlike Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov, Galarneau was not ready to turn professional straight out of the national program, taking the university route.
Despite a longer career path, he still sets high career goals for himself.
“I want to be part of the top 25, did he declare. I will do whatever it takes. »