(Bologna) Canada started its Davis Cup title defense on the right foot Wednesday morning.
Alexis Galarneau surprised Lorenzo Sonego 7-6 (8), 6-4 in Canada’s first singles match against Italy, in the group stage of the final of the prestigious men’s tennis team competition.
Galarneau, 200e world racket, took the measure of his opponent, 38e player in the world, in two hours and 22 minutes on the cement of the Unipol Arena in Bologna. It was the first duel between the two tennis players in their careers.
Galarneau thus signed his first career victory in the Davis Cup, and his first career against a player in the world top-50 in the ATP rankings.
“I worked really hard, and I’m very proud and grateful to have come out of this match with the victory,” said Galarneau, all smiles, in an interview on the field immediately after the match.
The 24-year-old was put to the test by Sonego in the first game of the match, which he took eight minutes to win, after avoiding four break points.
Galarneau then pulled himself together, and sealed the outcome of the first set by preserving two set points during the break, in particular.
“It was a roller coaster round, even if I managed to avoid the dips,” explained Galarneau about his performance in the first round. I have to thank my teammates, and my bench, because they helped me not to feel sorry for myself when things were a little worse. It was a determining factor (in my victory). »
The Quebecer continued his good work in the second set, and he gave himself an option for victory by breaking in the fifth game, to take control 3-2. Sonego then requested the intervention of a sports therapist since he seemed bothered by pain in his right leg, in the calf region.
This did not shake the concentration of the representative of the maple leaf, who confirmed the victory of his team by converting the first of his two match points on serve at 5-4 – to the great dismay of the crowd, mostly in favor of the local team.
Galarneau mentioned after the match that the experience gained during his two-set defeat against Dutchman Botic Van de Zandschulp last year in the Davis Cup in the Netherlands had stood him in good stead against Sonego.
“It helped me a lot. I enjoy big, noisy crowds, whether they support me or not. I’m grateful to be able to play tennis in front of so many people; It’s my dream, so I can’t complain. But yeah, that experience in the Netherlands last year really helped me, because I knew how to use the energy of the crowd, or that of my teammates, in my favor. »
Canada will be able to claim victory against Italy a little later today, in the second singles match between Montreal’s Gabriel Diallo, 158e in the world, to Lorenzo Musetti, 18e in the world.
If necessary, a doubles match could be used to settle the debate between the two countries. This is a Group A duel, which also includes Sweden and Chile.
Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill is representing Canada for the ninth time in his career after withdrawing from the U.S. Open due to a knee injury. The 24-year-old tennis player has a 14-9 record since his first participation in the Davis Cup in 2016, but he will obviously not be called upon against Italy.
Vasek Pospisil of Vernon, BC, completes the Canadian quartet. The 14e world racket, Quebecer Félix Auger-Aliassime, is conspicuous by his absence.
Canada will face Sweden on Thursday, before completing the group stage against Chile on Saturday.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the elimination rounds, which will take place November 21-26 in Malaga, Spain. This is also where the champion country will be crowned.
Canada’s conquest of the title in 2022 – sealed following a 2-0 victory over Australia in the final in Malaga – was the country’s first in this event since 1913.