Someone new to tennis may not be as familiar with the sport’s history in Quebec City. That’s because, before 2026, professional tennis hadn’t been played there in some time.
From 1993-2018, Quebec City hosted a WTA tournament held after the U.S. Open. It was played indoors first at Club Avantage Multi-Sports and then at PEPS on the campus of Laval University which recently underwent a major expansion including a new tennis centre which opened this year.
The list of former champions at the WTA event includes the likes of Jennifer Capriati, Lindsay Davenport, and Maria Sharapova just months before she won Wimbledon as a 17-year-old. Nathalie Tauziat, who is now a coach with Tennis Canada, took home the title during the inaugural edition in 1993.
Quebec City returned to the pro tennis circuit last month with the staging of an ATP Challenger event at the aforementioned tennis centre at PEPS. The first singles winner of the tournament was Luca Van Assche who will return with Team France to face Team Canada at Centre Videotron this weekend in the second round of Davis Cup Qualifiers.
It’s been 52 years since Quebec City has hosted a Davis Cup tie, but Quebec’s provincial capital has seen its fair share of Billie Jean King Cup ties over the past decade plus with Canadian teams featuring notable local players like Aleksandra Wozniak, Stéphanie Dubois, Marie-Ève Pelletier, Valérie Tétreault, and most recently Eugenie Bouchard.
Back in 1974, at the Pavillon de la jeunesse – where the Centre Vidéotron now stands – Canada’s Davis Cup squad of Réjean Genois, Anthony Bardlsey, Pierre Lamarche, and Donald McCormick fell 4-1 to Mexico.
Team Canada’s return to Quebec City promises to be special as Félix Auger-Aliassime prepares to lead the home side in the place where he grew up and where his father Sam has a tennis academy. It will mark the first time he plays a Davis Cup in his home province and what a moment to make your debut going up against a powerhouse team from France in front of family and friends.
Auger-Aliassime is already a Davis Cup champion after Canada’s historic title in 2022 not to mention and Olympic bronze medalist, but there’s no doubt that stepping on court in Quebec City and into the atmosphere of a NHL-ready arena wearing his country’s colours will be one of the most memorable moments of his career.
CLICK HERE for everything you need to know about the Davis Cup Qualifiers Second Round tie in Quebec City between Canada and France.
The Davis Cup is coming to Quebec City September 18 and 19 as Team Canada hosts France in the Davis Cup Qualifiers Second Round. Tickets are on sale now. CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR TICKETS!
Photos by: Mathieu Bélanger/Tennis Canada
