Moved to tears after years of trying

MALAGA, Spain | Vasek Pospisil was moved to tears in the minutes after Canada won the Davis Cup. “I don’t want to make you cry,” the field interviewer told her. “Too late,” replied the veteran of the delegation.

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At 32, the 100th in the world has experienced two eras of Canadian tennis. The one where the representatives of the maple leaf were confined to the qualifying phases of this “Tennis World Cup” and where a presence in the final was utopian.

Then the very recent one, during which the country gradually became a power of the little yellow ball.

Since 2008, the player from British Columbia has taken part in 28 Davis Cup confrontations, where he has several times been a determining factor in victory, especially in doubles.

We have also seen it since Thursday at the Martin Carpena stadium: whether with Denis Shapovalov against Germany, in the quarters, or against Italy in the semi-finals alongside Félix Auger-Aliassime, he was on the court in Malaga in the decisive match.

Reflecting on his emotions on the court, Pospisil pointed out that it had been about five years since “Canada could believe [au titre] “, with the rise of “very strong players” like Félix and “Shapo”.

“Winning the Davis Cup is one of the greatest things we can accomplish in our careers,” said the former fourth in the world in doubles at a press conference. It’s the Davis Cup. You play for your country. For your teammates. »

“Every time you jump on the court there’s a lot more at stake,” he added. »

Djokovic congratulated them

In a box yesterday was former world number 1 Novak Djokovic, who came to watch the final between Canada and Australia.

The Serb, currently ranked fifth, also came to congratulate the Canadian players in the locker room after their conquest.

Djokovic, incidentally, played a role in Canada’s Davis Cup history. In 2013, the team led by Milos Raonic, the great doubles specialist Daniel Nestor and Pospisil slipped through to the semi-finals.

“We were getting closer”

It was the country’s first major performance in this competition. The format was different at the time: the matches were played in Serbia, on clay, best of five games.

Already at the top of his game at the time, “Djoko” had helped eliminate Canada, 3-2.

“For a few years, we have been getting closer to the title little by little, analyzed Pospisil. In 2013, it was our first push. Then we found ourselves in the world group for quite a while, and we made that final in 2019.”

A little about their destiny

Asked whether this victory was “the pinnacle of the Tennis Canada program” and of its national training center in Montreal, through which Félix passed, the latter replied in the affirmative.

“It’s true, it was kind of our destiny. Tennis Canada has invested a lot of time, a lot of money and a lot of energy so that Canada will one day be a nation that has a lot of good players”, pointed out the sixth in the world.

” [Hier], it was kind of the big day. For all of us here, but also for everyone in the federation who wanted us to win, this is an important moment, continued “FAA”. I’m proud for all those people at home who helped us develop, to become better players. »

Canada’s journey to the title

Quarter-finals

Victory against Germany (2-1)

• Jan-Lennard Struff defeats Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (2)
• Felix Auger-Aliassime defeats Oscar Otte 7-6 (1), 6-4
• Denis Shapovalov and Vasek Pospisil beat Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz 2-6, 6-3, 6-3

Semi final

Victory against Italy (2-1)

• Lorenzo Sonego defeats Denis Shapovalov 7-6 (4), 6-7 (5), 6-4
• Felix Auger-Aliassime defeats Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-4
• Félix Auger-Aliassime and Vasek Pospisil beat Matteo Berrettini and Fabio Fognini 7-6 (2), 7-5

Final

Victory against Australia (2-0)

• Denis Shapovalov beats Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-2, 6-4
• Felix Auger-Aliassime defeats Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-4