Buoyed by Vernon vet, Canada kicks off Davis Cup Tennis Finals

A Vernon tennis star is looking to help his country win its second-ever Davis Cup championship.

Vasek Pospisil has again been selected on the five-player roster, as the Davis Cup Final Eight kicks off this week in Malaga, Spain.

Canada plays Germany in the quarterfinals, a repeat of the 2022 quarterfinals, which Canada won en route to their only Davis Cup championship.

Joining Pospisil on Canada’s roster are No. 56 world-ranked and former Wimbledon semi-finalist Denis Shapovalov, Gabriel Diallo, former world No. 3 Milos Raonic and Alexis Galarneau.

Canada will play on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Two singles matches will be contested, and if tied, a final doubles rubber (match) will take place. 

Pospisil was honoured this week with the Davis Cup Commitment Award for his 17 years of competing for Canada at the Davis Cup. He received the honour, as did Spanish icons Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer.

“Special night last night, receiving the Davis Cup Commitment Award alongside two legends of the sport,” Pospisil said on social media. “Dropped the trophy on stage, but all good.”

Overall, Pospisil has a 32-27 career record. The 34-year-old has competed in just two ATP events this year, losing in the first round of the National Bank Open (1-2, retired against Sebastian Korda), and in the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (6-7, 3-6 against Richard Gasquet). 

The winner between Germany and Canada will advance to the semifinals to face the Netherlands, who upset Spain on Tuesday. Rafael Nadal competed in his final tennis match, falling 4-6, 4-6 to Botic van de Zandschulp in Match 1 of the tie.

On the other side of the bracket is Italy, Argentina, USA and Australia, who will contest their quarterfinals on Thursday and Friday.