Photo : Sarah-Jade Champagne
OVERVIEW
For the first time in history, the best women’s and men’s tennis teams on the planet came together to crown the world champions.
The 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Finals and Davis Cup Finals were both played in Malaga, Spain in November. The women’s event ran from Nov. 13 to 20 with the men’s event taking place from Nov. 19 to 24.
Canada was one of six countries sending two teams to Malaga as both the Billie Jean King Cup team and Davis Cup team qualified. Both Canadian teams were eliminated in the quarter-finals.
Davis Cup
Two years removed from their victory in Malaga, the men’s team also had four of five players who lifted the trophy in 2022 back for this year’s Final 8. Denis Shapovalov, Gabriel Diallo, Alexis Galarneau and Vasek Pospisil will all don the red and white once again, as they did in the Group Stage in September. Milos Raonic, who played for Canada last year in Malaga and was on the team during the qualifying round in February, rounds out the squad captained by Frank Dancevic.
Diallo, Galarneau, and Pospisil were nominated to the Canadian squad for all three phases of the 2024 Davis Cup, including the upcoming Final 8.
Canada was eliminated from the 2024 Davis Cup Final 8 quarter-finals after a 2-0 loss to Germany on Wednesday.
Here are the results:
- Daniel Altmaier (GER) d. Gabriel Diallo (CAN) 7-6(5), 6-4: Read more
- Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) d. Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(5): Read more
*Because Germany won both singles matches, the doubles was not played.
Analysis: Canada Can’t Replicate 2022 Davis Cup Comeback Against Germany
The draw for the 2025 Davis Cup Qualifiers will take place on Monday, Dec. 2.
CLICK HERE to learn more about Canada’s Davis Cup Team.
Gabriel Diallo spoke to the media on Nov. 12 ahead of the Davis Cup Finals about what it means for him to represent his country and his development in 2024. CLICK HERE to read more.
Canada’s bid for a second title began the same way it did in 2022, with a quarter-final clash against Germany. Canada lost that tie 2-0.
CLICK HERE to learn more about Canada’s opposition in Malaga.
Team Canada met with the media on Monday ahead of the 2024 Davis Cup Finals. CLICK HERE to read what they had to say.
Social Corner
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Team Canada x Shoresy
Billie Jean King Cup
Canada was the defending champions at the Billie Jean King Cup, having won the title in 2023. Four of the five members of the championships team were back: Leylah Annie Fernandez, Gabriela Dabrowski, Marina Stakusic, and Rebecca Marino. Heidi El Tabakh was also back as captain.
The title defence came to an end in the quarter-finals of the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Finals after a 2-0 loss to Great Britain.
The results are listed below:
- Katie Boulter (GBR) d. Leylah Annie Fernandez (CAN) 6-2, 6-4: Read more
- Emma Raducanu (GBR) d. Rebecca Marino (CAN) 6-0, 7-5: Read more
*As Britain won both singles matches, the doubles was not played.
Read the analysis and player reactions: Magic Runs Out in Malaga for Canada at Billie Jean King Cup
CLICK HERE to learn more about Canada’s Billie Jean King Cup Team.
Team Canada spoke to the media on Friday about their recent good results on tour and how they are feeling ahead of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals. CLICK HERE to see what they had to say.
CLICK HERE to learn more about Canada’s opposition in Malaga.
SOCIAL CORNER
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Millenials VS Gen-Z challenge
Rebecca Marino on Match Point Canada
HOW TO WATCH
Viewers can watch Team Canada’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals and Davis Cup Final 8 ties for free on CBC Gem, cbcsports.ca, the CBC Sports app, and CBC Sports’ official YouTube channel. The ties will also be available in French, as TVA Sports and TVA Sports Direct will be showing Canada’s matchups, as well as all semi-finals and finals. The schedule can be found below.
ROAD TO MALAGA
Davis Cup
Qualifiers
The Canadian men kicked off their 2024 campaign on home soil in Montreal in February, the Davis Cup team’s first home tie in five years. Despite being without their top two players, the Canadian squad defeated the Republic of Korea 3-1 to advance to the 2024 Davis Cup Finals group stage.
Group Stage
Drawn in Group D for the Group Stage in Manchester, the full-strength Canadian squad led by Félix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov cruised to the top of the group, winning all three of their ties against Argentina, Finland, and Great Britain, going 7-2 in matches overall and not losing a set in singles all week to punch their ticket to the Final 8.
- Tie 1: Shapovalov, Auger-Aliassime Power Canada Past Argentina
- Tie 2: Auger-Aliassime, Shapovalov Dominate as Canada Sweeps Finland
- Tie 3: Canada Defeats Britain to Win Group D at Davis Cup Finals
Billie Jean King Cup
Team Canada had a direct route to the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Malaga as their 2023 title earned them a bye, allowing them to skip the qualifying round. Additionally, as the No. 1 team in the Billie Jean King Cup rankings, Canada will have a bye directly into the quarter-finals.
REVISITING THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
2023 Billie Jean King Cup
Qualifiers
Canada’s 2023 campaign got underway on home soil with a second consecutive qualifying tie held in Vancouver. Leylah Annie Fernandez put the team on her back, scoring all three points for the hosts as Canada took out Belgium to qualify for the Finals in Seville.
- Day 1: Canada, Belgium All Tied Up at Billie Jean King Cup
- Day 2: Fernandez, Dabrowski send Canada into Billie Jean King Cup Finals
Finals
The Canadians cruised through what looked to be a potentially tricky Group C in Seville, winning all six matches in two ties against Spain and Poland. A gutsy choice by captain Heidi El Tabakh to start newcomer Marina Stakusic paid off in a big way as the teen won both her singles matches to help Canada through the group.
In the semis, they shocked the superpower Czechs with an upset win in the deciding doubles before Stakusic and Fernandez slammed the door on Italy in the final.
2022 Davis Cup
Final 8
The quarter and semifinals followed similar scripts, with Canada dropping the opening singles match only for Auger-Aliassime to dominate the second singles before the Canadian team snuck it out in the doubles. There was no such drama in the final as both Denis Shapovalov and Auger-Aliassime won in straight sets to earn Canada its first title in 109 years of competing at the Davis Cup.
- Quarter-Final: Canada completes stunning comeback to reach semis
- Semifinal: Auger-Aliassime, Pospisil send Canada past Italy into Davis Cup final
- Final: Auger-Aliassime, Shapovalov lead Canada to first Davis Cup title
LISTEN: Interviews with the Members of Team Canada
Throughout 2024, the members of Team Canada have sat down with Match Point Canada, the official English podcast of Tennis Canada and the National Bank Open. Check out the interviews:
WATCH: Game. Set. Canada
Want to know more about Canada’s recent history at the Billie Jean King and Davis Cups? Check out Game. Set. Canada, the web documentary series following the exploits of Team Canada.