(Bologna) Few observers would have bet on Alexis Galarneau and Gabriel Diallo at the dawn of the duel between Canada and Italy in the group stage of the Davis Cup final. After all, over 100 ranks separated them from their respective opponents. But whatever.
Gabriel Diallo, 158th in the world, shrugged off a hostile crowd and disposed of Lorenzo Musetti, 18th in the world, 7-5, 6-4 to give Canada an insurmountable 2-0 lead against Italy , Wednesday, at the Unipol Arena in Bologna.
According to Diallo, Canada was able to do well against Italy since it is now playing in an uninhibited manner, after winning the title last year.
“We don’t feel pressure; we have already accomplished the most difficult part by winning this competition. I think I speak for the whole team when I say that at this stage, it’s just a bonus. We won the Davis Cup last year, so no matter what happens here, as long as we put up a fight in every match and give ourselves a chance to win, then our goal will be achieved,” he summed up. .
A few hours earlier, Galarneau, 200th in the world, had set the tone for the day by surprising Lorenzo Sonego, 38th in the ATP, in two sets of 7-6 (8), 6-4.
Diallo and Galarneau thus signed their first career victory in the Davis Cup, and Galarneau even enjoyed his first career victory against a player in the world top-50. In short, it was a dream day for the two young men.
“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 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 the lead 3-2. Sonego then requested the intervention of a sports therapist, since he seemed bothered by pain in his right leg.
That didn’t shake the concentration of the maple leaf representative, who confirmed his team’s victory 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 the Dutchman Botic Van de Zandschulp last year in the Davis Cup in the Netherlands had been very useful to him 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. »
Diallo sealed the outcome of the match against Italy a few hours later.
“I’m very happy with the way I reacted. You know, in tennis, you sometimes have good days, and sometimes bad days. Fortunately, today I was very efficient – serving, forehand, etc. […] I am very happy to have been able to complete the job,” said Diallo on the field after his game.
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.
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 is 14-9 since his first Davis Cup appearance in 2016, but was not called upon against Italy.
Vasek Pospisil of Vernon, BC, completes the Canadian quartet. Quebecer Félix Auger-Aliassime, 14th in the world, is absent from the competition.
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 since 1913 in this competition.