Canada Davis Cup team
Encyclopedia
The Canada Davis Cup team represents Canada in Davis Cup
tennis
competition and is governed by Tennis Canada
.
Canada currently competes in the Americas Zone of Group I. The team's best result came in its first appearance in 1913 when it reached the World Group final, losing to the United States 0–3. Canada last competed in the World Group in 2004, although they have qualified for the 2012 World Group.
. The team won its first tie, played in June at the Queen's Club, London over South Africa
by a score of 4–1. The team consisted of just two players, Robert Powell and Bernard Schwengers. Canada then in July easily defeated Belgium
in the semi-finals 4–0. In the playoff final however, played a week later, they lost all three matches to the Americans in straight sets. (The Americans went on to defeat Great Britain in the challenge round, to win the competition.)
Canada did not play a World Group tie from 1921 until 1991, when the team of Grant Connell
, Glenn Michibata
, Andrew Sznajder
, and Martin Wostenholme
, with team captain Pierre Lamarche, lost 1–4 away to Spain
. The following year, again in the World Group first round, Canada came closer to advancing, going down 2–3 at home to Sweden
despite taking a first-day 2–0 lead. The tie was highlighted by a surprise singles win of rookie Daniel Nestor
over superstar Stefan Edberg
. Nestor could not repeat the magic, however, losing in the deciding rubber match in 5 sets to Magnus Gustafsson
.
2004 saw Canada, in its final World Group appearance to date, fall away to the Netherlands
1–4. Team members then were Simon Larose
, Frank Dancevic
, Frédéric Niemeyer
, and Daniel Nestor
as a star doubles specialist.
In 2011, Canada defeated the Israel Davis Cup team
3–2 at the Canada Stadium in Ramat Hasharon
, Israel, on September 16–18 to qualify for the 2012 Davis Cup World Group. Canada's team consisted of Milos Raonic
(# 31 in September 2011), Vasek Pospisil
(#124 in September 2011), Daniel Nestor
, Philip Bester
and Peter Polansky
. The teams split the first two matches in two upsets, as Pospisil defeated Dudi Sela
7–6(4), 6–7(6), 6–1, 6–7(2), 6–3, and Amir Weintraub
beat Raonic 5–7, 7–5, 6–3, 6–1. Nestor and Pospisil defeated Jonathan Erlich
and Andy Ram
4–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–4 in the doubles match. On the final day, Sela defeated Polansky 6–3, 6–3, 6–3 in the fourth match while Pospisil defeated Weintraub 6–2, 7–6(3), 6–4 in the final match.
Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
competition and is governed by Tennis Canada
Tennis Canada
Tennis Canada is the national governing body of tennis within Canada. It works together with the provincial associations to organize tournaments and rules. Tennis Canada also host one ATP Masters Series tournament and one WTA Tier I tournament . The event locations rotate between Montreal and...
.
Canada currently competes in the Americas Zone of Group I. The team's best result came in its first appearance in 1913 when it reached the World Group final, losing to the United States 0–3. Canada last competed in the World Group in 2004, although they have qualified for the 2012 World Group.
History of Team Canada in Davis Cup
Canada competed in its first Davis Cup in 19131913 International Lawn Tennis Challenge
The 1913 International Lawn Tennis Challenge was the 12th edition of what is now known as the Davis Cup. With Great Britain's win in 1912, the competition returned to Europe for the first time in five years. This prompted several new teams to join the competition, creating the largest field to date...
. The team won its first tie, played in June at the Queen's Club, London over South Africa
South Africa Davis Cup team
The South Africa Davis Cup team represents South Africa in Davis Cup tennis competition and are governed by the South African Tennis Association....
by a score of 4–1. The team consisted of just two players, Robert Powell and Bernard Schwengers. Canada then in July easily defeated Belgium
Belgium Davis Cup team
The Belgium Davis Cup team represents Belgium in Davis Cup tennis competition and are governed by the Royal Belgian Tennis Federation.Belgium finished as runner-up in 1904.Belgium returned to the World Group in 2007 after 3 years absence.-Current team:...
in the semi-finals 4–0. In the playoff final however, played a week later, they lost all three matches to the Americans in straight sets. (The Americans went on to defeat Great Britain in the challenge round, to win the competition.)
Canada did not play a World Group tie from 1921 until 1991, when the team of Grant Connell
Grant Connell
Grant Connell is a former professional tennis player from Canada. He was one of the world's top doubles player from the early through middle 1990s....
, Glenn Michibata
Glenn Michibata
Glenn Michibata is a former professional tennis player and current head coach of the Princeton University Tigers collegiate tennis team.-As a pro singles player:...
, Andrew Sznajder
Andrew Sznajder
Andrew Sznajder is a former Canadian professional tour tennis player.A native of Oakville, Ontario, Sznajder achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 46 in September 1989...
, and Martin Wostenholme
Martin Wostenholme
Martin Wostenholme is a former touring professional tennis and Canadian Davis Cup player.A right-handed predominantly base-line player, Wostenholme was from 1981 to 1984 a four-time All-Ivy Leaguer in singles at Yale University. He had a career ATP singles high ranking of World No. 84, which he...
, with team captain Pierre Lamarche, lost 1–4 away to Spain
Spain Davis Cup team
The Spain Davis Cup team represents Spain in the Davis Cup tennis competition and are governed by the Real Federación Española de Tenis, presided over by José Luis Escañuela....
. The following year, again in the World Group first round, Canada came closer to advancing, going down 2–3 at home to Sweden
Sweden Davis Cup team
The Sweden Davis Cup team represents Sweden in Davis Cup tennis competition and is governed by the Svenska Tennisförbundet.Sweden is the 5th most successful nation, winning the title 7 times...
despite taking a first-day 2–0 lead. The tie was highlighted by a surprise singles win of rookie Daniel Nestor
Daniel Nestor
Daniel Mark Nestor, CM , born Danijel Nestorović September 4, 1972, in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, is a Serbian-born Canadian professional tennis player from Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
over superstar Stefan Edberg
Stefan Edberg
Stefan Bengt Edberg is a former World No. 1 professional tennis player from Sweden. A major proponent of the serve-and-volley style of tennis, he won six Grand Slam singles titles and three Grand Slam men's doubles titles. He also won one season ending championship title the Masters Grand Prix...
. Nestor could not repeat the magic, however, losing in the deciding rubber match in 5 sets to Magnus Gustafsson
Magnus Gustafsson
Magnus Nils Gustafsson is a former professional tennis player from Sweden.Gustafsson won 14 top-level singles titles during his career, reaching a career-high singles ranking of World No. 10 in 1991. He was also part of the Swedish team which won the Davis Cup in 1998...
.
2004 saw Canada, in its final World Group appearance to date, fall away to the Netherlands
Netherlands Davis Cup team
The Netherlands Davis Cup team represents the Netherlands in Davis Cup tennis competition and are governed by the Royal Dutch Lawn Tennis Federation.The Netherlands currently competes in the Europe/Africa Zone Group I...
1–4. Team members then were Simon Larose
Simon Larose
Simon Larose is a former professional tennis player. He was Canada's top-ranked singles player for some months during 2003 and 2004...
, Frank Dancevic
Frank Dancevic
Frank Russell Dancevic is a Canadian professional tennis player. He first became the country's top singles player, according to ATP rankings, on February 10, 2003, as an eighteen-year old, and remained so from January 30, 2006 until June 20, 2010. He is the Canada No...
, Frédéric Niemeyer
Frederic Niemeyer
Frédéric Niemeyer is a retired, veteran minor tour and Canadian Davis Cup tennis player who now is a Tennis Canada coach. Born in Campbellton, New Brunswick, Niemeyer hails from Deauville, Sherbrooke, Quebec...
, and Daniel Nestor
Daniel Nestor
Daniel Mark Nestor, CM , born Danijel Nestorović September 4, 1972, in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, is a Serbian-born Canadian professional tennis player from Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
as a star doubles specialist.
In 2011, Canada defeated the Israel Davis Cup team
Israel Davis Cup team
The Israel Davis Cup team represents Israel in Davis Cup tennis competition and is governed by the Israel Tennis Association....
3–2 at the Canada Stadium in Ramat Hasharon
Ramat Hasharon
Ramat HaSharon is a city located on Israel's central coastal strip in the south of the Sharon region, bordering Tel Aviv to the south and Herzliya and Kibbutz Glil Yam to the north. It is part of the Tel Aviv District, within Gush Dan metropolitan area...
, Israel, on September 16–18 to qualify for the 2012 Davis Cup World Group. Canada's team consisted of Milos Raonic
Milos Raonic
Milos Raonic is a Canadian professional tennis player from Thornhill, Ontario, Canada.Born in what is now Podgorica, Montenegro, Raonic moved to Canada with his family at the age of 3. Raonic is Canada's highest ATP ranked male singles player and the country's highest ever ranked player since...
(# 31 in September 2011), Vasek Pospisil
Vasek Pospisil
Vasek Pospisil is a Canadian professional tennis player. Pospisil is currently ranked World No. 124 in singles and No. 115 in doubles, both career highs. As Canada's No. 2 in singles and No...
(#124 in September 2011), Daniel Nestor
Daniel Nestor
Daniel Mark Nestor, CM , born Danijel Nestorović September 4, 1972, in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, is a Serbian-born Canadian professional tennis player from Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
, Philip Bester
Philip Bester
Philip Bester is a Canadian professional tennis player from North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Bester was a finalist at the 2006 junior French Open. In doing so he became the first Canadian to reach a grand slam final in singles, and is only the second ever to do so.-As a junior:Bester...
and Peter Polansky
Peter Polansky
Peter Polansky is a Canadian professional tennis player. He is now Canada's seventh-ranked singles performer, according to the ATP; he was however the country's top singles player from June 21, 2010 until January 17, 2011. Previously he was also Canada's No...
. The teams split the first two matches in two upsets, as Pospisil defeated Dudi Sela
Dudi Sela
David "Dudi" Sela is an Israeli professional tennis player.Sela reached a career-high singles ranking of # 29 in July 2009. He is currently Israel's top men's singles player, ahead of Amir Weintraub.As a 17-year-old junior, he won the 2003 French Open boys' doubles championship with his doubles...
7–6(4), 6–7(6), 6–1, 6–7(2), 6–3, and Amir Weintraub
Amir Weintraub
Amir Weintraub is an Israeli professional tennis player. He is the current Israeli champion, and is currently ranked No...
beat Raonic 5–7, 7–5, 6–3, 6–1. Nestor and Pospisil defeated Jonathan Erlich
Jonathan Erlich
Jonathan Dario "Yoni" Erlich is a professional Israeli tennis player...
and Andy Ram
Andy Ram
Andy Ram is a professional tennis player from Israel, and the first Israeli tennis player to win a seniors Grand Slam event . He plays more doubles than singles as he prefers doubles more and wins more matches...
4–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–4 in the doubles match. On the final day, Sela defeated Polansky 6–3, 6–3, 6–3 in the fourth match while Pospisil defeated Weintraub 6–2, 7–6(3), 6–4 in the final match.
Current team members
- Philip BesterPhilip BesterPhilip Bester is a Canadian professional tennis player from North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Bester was a finalist at the 2006 junior French Open. In doing so he became the first Canadian to reach a grand slam final in singles, and is only the second ever to do so.-As a junior:Bester...
- Daniel NestorDaniel NestorDaniel Mark Nestor, CM , born Danijel Nestorović September 4, 1972, in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, is a Serbian-born Canadian professional tennis player from Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
- Peter PolanskyPeter PolanskyPeter Polansky is a Canadian professional tennis player. He is now Canada's seventh-ranked singles performer, according to the ATP; he was however the country's top singles player from June 21, 2010 until January 17, 2011. Previously he was also Canada's No...
- Milos RaonicMilos RaonicMilos Raonic is a Canadian professional tennis player from Thornhill, Ontario, Canada.Born in what is now Podgorica, Montenegro, Raonic moved to Canada with his family at the age of 3. Raonic is Canada's highest ATP ranked male singles player and the country's highest ever ranked player since...
- Vasek PospisilVasek PospisilVasek Pospisil is a Canadian professional tennis player. Pospisil is currently ranked World No. 124 in singles and No. 115 in doubles, both career highs. As Canada's No. 2 in singles and No...
Former team members
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Rejean Genois Réjean Génois is a former professional and Davis Cup tennis player from Quebec City. Génois was the top-ranked Canadian singles player during 1978 and 1979. His career high ranking of World No. 89 was the highest grand prix tour computer ranking for a Canadian until Glenn Michibata reached World No... Arthur Ham Arthur Worth Ham was a prominent Canadian histologist. His textbook Histology is considered by many practitioners an indispensable reference.-Early life, education, and tennis:... Sébastien Lareau Sébastien Lareau is a former touring professional tennis player.-As a singles player:The right-handed Lareau achieved a career best singles ranking of World No. 76 in April 1995. In January 1999 he reached a career second best ranking of World No. 78. He had a career ATP tour event win-loss... Simon Larose Simon Larose is a former professional tennis player. He was Canada's top-ranked singles player for some months during 2003 and 2004... Martin Laurendeau Martin Laurendeau is a former touring professional tennis player, and present coach and captain of the Canadian Davis Cup team.... Sébastien Leblanc Sébastien Leblanc is a former tour professional tennis player. Leblanc captured three junior Grand Slam titles and played Davis Cup for Canada. More of a doubles specialist, he won five Challenger events in doubles and reached a career-high doubles ranking of World No... |
Richard Legendre Richard Legendre is a former professional tennis player and a Quebec politician.- Tennis :Legendre once represented Canada at the Davis Cup and had a career-high tennis ranking of World No. 232 in singles... Brendan Macken Brendan Macken is a former Canadian National tennis champion and Canadian Davis Cup player.Originally from Montreal, Macken won the precursor to today's Roger Cups, the 1950 Canadian National championship, in singles, by defeating Henri Rochon in the final, 6-0, 6-0, 6-3. Despite this convincing... Lorne Main Lorne Main is a former world-class amateur tennis player who competed 11 Grand Slam tournaments in singles. Main won the singles title of the prestigious Monte Carlo tennis championship in 1954 and was an integral Canada Davis Cup team team member during the early 1950s... Glenn Michibata Glenn Michibata is a former professional tennis player and current head coach of the Princeton University Tigers collegiate tennis team.-As a pro singles player:... Frederic Niemeyer Frédéric Niemeyer is a retired, veteran minor tour and Canadian Davis Cup tennis player who now is a Tennis Canada coach. Born in Campbellton, New Brunswick, Niemeyer hails from Deauville, Sherbrooke, Quebec... Dale Power Dale Power is a former top-ranked Canadian tennis player.Power held the best singles Davis Cup record by winning percentage of any Canadian player... Chris Pridham Chris Pridham is a former touring professional tennis player.Pridham had a career Grand Prix / ATP tour win-loss record of 54 and 78. His career high singles ranking was World No. 75, which he attained in March 1988... |
Jocelyn Robichaud Jocelyn Robichaud is a former tour professional tennis player. Robichaud captured three junior Grand Slam titles and played Davis Cup for Canada. More of a doubles specialist, he won three Challenger events in doubles and reached a career-high ATP doubles ranking of World No... Henri Rochon Henri Rochon was a Canadian National tennis champion and Canadian Davis Cup tennis player.Born in and resident to Montreal, Rochon won the Canadian Open, the precursor to today's Rogers Cup ATP 1000 Series event, in 1949, defeating fellow Canadian Lorne Main in the final, 6–3, 6–4, 4–6, 6–2... Andrew Sznajder Andrew Sznajder is a former Canadian professional tour tennis player.A native of Oakville, Ontario, Sznajder achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 46 in September 1989... Martin Wostenholme Martin Wostenholme is a former touring professional tennis and Canadian Davis Cup player.A right-handed predominantly base-line player, Wostenholme was from 1981 to 1984 a four-time All-Ivy Leaguer in singles at Yale University. He had a career ATP singles high ranking of World No. 84, which he... Jack Wright (tennis) Jack Wright was a noted Canadian tennis player.Wright captured the Canadian National tennis tournament singles title three times, in 1927, 1929, and 1931, and the doubles title four times, in with Willard Crocker in 1923, 1925, and 1929, and once with Marcel Rainville, in 1931.Wright competed... |