Shapovalov withdraws from this week's Davis Cup tie due to back injury

The Canadian Press

· Posted: Jan 27, 2025 10:30 AM EST | Last Updated: January 27

Denis Shapovalov has withdrawn from Canada's upcoming Davis Cup necktie against Hungary owed to a backmost injury, Tennis Canada said Monday.

The best-of-five first-round qualifier begins Saturday astatine IGA Stadium successful Montreal.

"I'm truly disappointed to retreat from the Davis Cup necktie this weekend," Shapovalov said successful a statement. "I emotion playing astatine location and it's ever an honour to play for Team Canada, but I'm inactive struggling with immoderate backmost symptom aft my past lucifer astatine the Australian Open."

Shapovalov, the satellite No. 53,, said helium plans to proceed rehabilitation implicit the coming days and hopes to beryllium acceptable for an ATP Tour lawsuit adjacent week successful Dallas.

The 25-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., mislaid to 16th-seeded Italian Lorenzo Musetti successful the 2nd circular astatine Melbourne Park.

Shapovalov's withdrawal near Canada without its apical 2 singles players. Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime, the satellite No. 23, was not disposable arsenic he's focusing connected the indoor hardcourt play successful Europe.

WATCH | Shapovalov ousted from Australian Open:

Calgary's Cleeve Harper was named to the roster arsenic Shapovalov's replacement, joining a squad that includes Montreal's Gabriel Diallo, Alexis Galarneau of Laval, Que., Liam Draxl of Newmarket, Ont., and Vasek Pospisil of Vernon, B.C.

"We're evidently disappointed that Denis can't articulation america this week," said Canadian skipper Frank Dancevic. "He's an exceptionally talented subordinate who has ever taken large pridefulness successful representing Canada, arsenic shown by his galore appearances implicit the years.

"That said, we inactive person a beardown squad that tin vie with anyone. We judge successful our players and are thrilled to invited Cleeve, who adds extent to our team."

The victor of the two-day necktie volition beforehand to the 2nd circular of qualifiers successful September. The losing squad volition beryllium relegated to the World Group 1 level.

Canada won its 1st rubric successful 2022

Canada has mislaid successful the quarterfinals the past 2 years.

Auger-Aliassime besides gave up his roster spot past fall, citing betterment clip and humanitarian interests. He helped anchor Canada to its lone Davis Cup rubric successful 2022 and won Olympic mixed doubles bronze astatine the Paris Games past summer.

At No. 85, Diallo is present the highest-ranked Canadian singles subordinate connected the roster. Galarneau is ranked 176th, 7 positions up of Draxl.

Pospisil, who won a U.S. Open doubles rubric successful 2014, spent astir of past play connected the lower-level Challenger circuit.

Hungary, meanwhile, has nominated 2 top-100 singles players successful No. 58 Fabian Marozsan and No. 96 Marton Fucsovics. Kornel Bardoczky captains a squad that besides includes Mate Valkusz, Adam Jilly and Peter Fajta.

Harper, who's ranked 128th successful doubles, volition beryllium making his Davis Cup debut.

The 24-year-old chiefly competes astatine Challenger events. He has claimed 8 ITF doubles titles implicit his career, including a triumph with Draxl past play astatine the Oeiras Open 3 successful Portugal.

Canada is 3rd successful the Davis Cup rankings down Italy and Australia. Hungary, ranked No. 22, qualified for the first-round necktie by defeating Egypt successful World Group 1 play.

Montreal besides served arsenic a first-round big past February erstwhile Canada defeated South Korea 3-1. Canada has won 9 of its past 10 location ties.

Two singles matches volition beryllium played connected the 2,000-seat venue's indoor hardcourt connected Saturday. A doubles lucifer and 2 singles matches are scheduled for Sunday.