Canada suffered a major setback Thursday when Denis Shapovalov and Gabriel Diallo withdrew from the Davis Cup Final 8 because of injuries. Tennis Canada announced the moves in a statement. The Nov. 24-29 competition takes place in Bologna, Italy.
Shapovalov, of Richmond Hill, Ont., had to retire from his first-round match at the Paris Masters earlier this month because of an adductor injury.
“Given the seriousness of the injury, I unfortunately haven’t had enough time to heal to be fully ready to compete in the Davis Cup finals,” Shapovalov said in a statement. “I always love representing my country so I’m extremely disappointed.”
Diallo Forced to Withdraw Again
Diallo, of Montreal, returned to competition last month after recovering from a leg injury he sustained in August. His comeback ended quickly, however, when he withdrew from a tournament in Brest, France.
“It is always a great disappointment to be unable to represent your country,” Diallo said. “I did everything I could to be ready in time for the Davis Cup, but unfortunately I was not cleared to compete by my doctor.”
He added, “I look forward to representing Canada again soon and wish the team the best of luck at the Finals in Bologna.”
Replacements Named
Canada has added Alexis Galarneau of Laval, Que., and Keegan Rice of Regina to the roster. Félix Auger-Aliassime of Montreal, currently ranked World No. 14, headlines the lineup, which also includes Liam Draxl of Newmarket, Ont., and Duncan Chan of Markham, Ont.
Canada was scheduled to face Czechia in the quarterfinals on Nov. 24. Each tie consists of two singles matches and a deciding doubles match if necessary.
Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov were key contributors to Canada’s lone Davis Cup title, which came in 2022.