Canada forces decisive 5th match in Davis Cup qualifier against Hungary
Canada showed its resilience in Davis Cup action on Sunday, rallying back to force a decisive fifth match against Hungary. Montreal’s Gabriel Diallo led the charge with a convincing 6-1, 6-3 victory over Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan in the first-round qualifier at Montreal’s IGA Stadium.
Earlier in the day, Vasek Pospisil of Vernon, B.C., and Liam Draxl of Newmarket, Ont., secured a crucial win in the doubles match against Hungary’s Mate Valkusz and Peter Fajta, with a score of 7-6 (2), 6-4.
The Canadian team found themselves in a tough spot after falling behind 2-0 in the best-of-five tie with two singles losses on Saturday. However, they managed to level the playing field with Diallo’s win and the successful doubles performance.
The fifth and final match of the tie will see Alexis Galarneau of Laval, Que., face off against Marton Fucsovics to determine which team advances to the second round of qualifiers in September. The stakes are high, as the losing team will be relegated to the World Group 1 level.
Despite missing key players Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov, Canada put up a strong fight against Hungary, who made a late change to their doubles lineup on Sunday. Pospisil, a doubles specialist, and Draxl, a rising star, showcased their skills in their first-time partnership.
Both teams displayed excellent sportsmanship and skill throughout the match, with Canada ultimately clinching the crucial win. The support of the enthusiastic crowd of 1,760 spectators added to the electrifying atmosphere on the indoor hard court.
Diallo’s dominant performance and Pospisil and Draxl’s solid teamwork proved to be the keys to Canada’s comeback. The team’s determination and fighting spirit will be put to the test in the final match, as they aim to secure a spot in the next round of qualifiers.
With Canada ranked third in the Davis Cup standings and Hungary in 22nd place, the outcome of the tie hangs in the balance. The Canadian team will look to draw on their past successes in home ties and continue their winning streak in Davis Cup action.
