Shapovalov Withdraws from Davis Cup Qualifier in Montreal

Vegas Tennis Team
3 Min Read

Denis Shapovalov has officially pulled out of his first-round qualifying match for the Davis Cup due to a lingering back injury, as confirmed by Tennis Canada on Monday.

The talented athlete from Richmond Hill, Ontario, was set to represent Canada against Hungary. In his absence, Alberta’s Cleeve Harper will step in this weekend in Montreal.

“It’s truly disheartening to withdraw from the Davis Cup tie this weekend,” expressed Shapovalov. “Playing at home is something I cherish, and it’s a privilege to don the Canadian colors. Unfortunately, my back pain has persisted since my last match at the Australian Open. I will focus on my rehabilitation with hopes of competing in Dallas. Best of luck to the team—I’ll be cheering them on from afar!”

Shapovalov’s last outing was at the Australian Open, where he fell in the second round to 16th seed Lorenzo Musetti.

Ranked No. 154 in doubles on the ATP Tour, Cleeve Harper is making his first appearance on Team Canada. The 24-year-old has been mainly a competitor on the ATP Challenger circuit, where he notably claimed the doubles title at the Oeiras Open 3 alongside fellow Canadian Liam Draxl.

Harper will join a strong lineup that includes Gabriel Diallo, Alexis Galarneau, Liam Draxl, and Vasek Pospisil.

“It’s obviously disappointing not to have Denis with us this week,” remarked Canadian team captain Frank Dancevic. “He’s an incredibly skilled player who has always taken immense pride in representing Canada throughout his career. Nevertheless, we have a formidable team that can compete at the highest level. We trust our players and are excited to welcome Cleeve Harper, who bolsters our roster.”

The Davis Cup tie, set for February 1-2 at IGA Stadium, will determine who advances to the second round of qualifiers in September. The losing side will be relegated to the World Group 1 level.

Currently, Canada ranks third in the Davis Cup standings, trailing only Italy and Australia. Hungary, ranked No. 22, secured their place in this tie by defeating Egypt in World Group 1.

Montreal was the site for a first-round tie last February when Canada triumphed against South Korea 3-1. Canada has remarkably won nine of its last 10 home ties.

During the tournament, two singles matches are set for Saturday on the venue’s indoor hardcourt, followed by a doubles match and two more singles matches on Sunday.

The victorious teams from the second-round qualifiers will earn a spot alongside host Italy in the prestigious 2025 Final 8 slated for November. Last fall, Italy secured its second consecutive Davis Cup title with a clean 2-0 victory over the Netherlands.

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