Monday Digest: Canada Looks for Perfect End to 2023 at Davis Cup

It all comes down to this. 

One event remains on the main tennis calendar in 2023 and it is a big one, especially for Canada. 

A year ago, the Canadians capped off the season in style by winning their first Davis Cup. Now they have a chance to extend the nation’s reign over the sport. 

Here’s what you need to know. 

What to Watch: Time for a Title Defence 

A lot is on the line for Canada this week at the Davis Cup as the men look to cement the nation’s status atop the tennis world by defending their Davis Cup title. 

Should Team Canada presented by Sobeys successfully win their second consecutive title, Canada would become the fifth country to win the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup in the same year. 

The squad looking to run it back in Malaga is very similar to the one that won in 2022, with Felix Auger-Aliassime, Vasek Pospisil, Gabriel Diallo, Alexis Galarneau, and captain Frank Dancevic all returning. The only difference is Milos Raonic joins the team in place of Denis Shapovalov. 

Canada will contest their quarter-final on Tuesday against Finland. A win could set up a potential rematch of the 2022 final with Australia if the Aussies defeat Czechia. 

Read also: Canada Enjoying Return to Malaga for Davis Cup Title Defence

On the bottom half of the draw, Great Britain plays the Novak Djokovic-led Serbia, while the powerhouse Italians led by Jannik Sinner take on the Netherlands.   

In Case You Missed It: Djokovic Finishes On Top Again 

The final ATP Tour event took place last week in Turin with Novak Djokovic claiming his seventh title at the ATP Finals. 

In the process, the Serb also clinched the year-end No. 1 ranking for the eighth time. 

Jannik Sinner came close to claiming the title on home soil, falling to Djokovic in the final after having beaten the world No. 1 in the group stage. Sinner technically could have eliminated Djokovic if he had lost to Holger Rune in the final round robin match, but the Italian won in three sets. 

Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev reached the semifinals, losing to Djokovic and Sinner respectively. 

Under the Radar: Branstine Brilliant Again 

Something about Monastir, Tunisia, agrees with Carson Branstine. 

The Canadian won her second title in as many weeks in the city, cruising through the ITF W15 draw without dropping a set.  

She had more bagels (four) than sets where she lost more than two games (two) and the most games she lost in a match was five in the final against second seed Emily Welker which Branstine won 6-3, 6-2. She also defeated the top seed Ana Candiotto 6-1, 6-0 in the first round. 

It is the Canadian’s third ITF singles title overall. 

The final professional event on Canadian soil took place last week in Drummondville with Zizou Bergs claiming the ATP Challenger title. 

Liam Draxl, who had won the singles the previous week in Calgary, reached the doubles final with Giles Hussey of Great Britain, but was defeated by second-seeds Andre Goransson and Toby Samuel. 

Read also: Throwback to Felix Auger-Aliassime’s Three-Title Run in October 2022

Canadian Alvin Nicholas Tudorica also reached a doubles final last week at the M15 in Boca Raton, Florida, but was defeated. 

At the WTA 125 event in Midland, Michigan, Katherine Sebov reached the quarter-finals where she lost to Alycia Parks.  

The Parapan Am games take place this week in Santiago and the Canadians will be well represented in the wheelchair tennis event with six participating. Each Canadian is competing in both singles and doubles. 

You can follow the Canadians in action every week here.