In the midst of the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas, Canada’s Davis Cup tennis team finds itself navigating challenging waters. Gabriel Diallo and his fellow teammates are poised to confront whatever comes their way.
“Ultimately, I don’t believe it impacts our game much,” Diallo shared during a video conference on Thursday, ahead of their World Group I tie against Israel. The matches will proceed in a venue devoid of fans and media due to safety concerns.
Various activist groups have organized protests for Friday and Saturday, calling attention to Israel’s military actions in Gaza and the West Bank.
“No matter who we’re up against, our level of competition remains the same,” Diallo affirmed. “We’re going to give our all and strive to secure a win.”
Turning 24 later this month, Diallo from Montreal is facing unprecedented circumstances early in his career. He mentioned that this is the first instance where sports and global events have intersected for him.
“These are unexpected challenges, but we’ll adapt,” Diallo noted. “As tennis players, adapting to varying conditions is part of our journey. This is yet another situation calling for our flexibility.”
The timing is unfortunate for Canada’s squad, who were hoping for enthusiastic support at the Scotiabank Centre when the tie was initially scheduled.
“Having a passionate crowd is always a boost, but we’re trained professionals,” Canada’s captain Frank Dancevic stated. “Thanks to COVID, we’ve all learned to perform without fans.”
“The players are laser-focused, and regardless of the atmosphere, I trust my team to adapt seamlessly,” he added.
The decision to hold the matches without an audience was made earlier this week due to “increasing safety concerns” highlighted by local officials and national security agencies, according to Tennis Canada.
Israel’s captain, Jonathan Erlich, expressed that his team feels secure in Halifax.
“No, I believe Tennis Canada has provided excellent treatment. We have security in place and feel safe,” he remarked.
While proud to represent Israel in the tie, Erlich refrained from commenting on the ongoing war.
“There’s much to say, but this isn’t the time or place,” he added.
Last month, over 400 Canadian athletes and scholars, including Olympic runner Moh Ahmed, called for the cancellation of the tie. Palestinian activist Tarek Gazawi emphasized on Wednesday that allowing the matches to continue amid ongoing violence and starvation is inappropriate, insisting they should not be livestreamed.
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs expressed disappointment over the event being closed to fans due to a “small group of extremists.”
The planned protests reflect a broader trend of activism within sports regarding the conflict in Gaza.
This week, the Montreal-based human rights group Palestinian and Jewish Unity requested Mayor Valérie Plante to prevent the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team from participating in Sunday’s Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal.
The draw for the Canada-Israel tie also took place on Thursday.
Diallo, ranked No. 35, will start the tie against No. 142 Daniel Cukierman on Friday. This will be followed by a match featuring No. 117 Liam Draxl from Newmarket, Ont., making his debut in Davis Cup singles, against No. 787 Orel Kimhi.
On Saturday, Draxl and Calgary’s Cleeve Harper will team up to take on Ofek Shimanov and Jordan Hasson in doubles. Diallo will face Kimhi, while Draxl is set to conclude the tie against Cukierman.
