Canada reaches world group at Davis Cup

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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The Miele Canadian Davis Cup team is heading back to the World Group after defeating Israel 3-2 in the deciding fifth rubber at Canada Stadium in Ramat Hasharon, Israel on Sunday. Peter Polansky (Thornhill, Ontario) started the day in place of world no. 31 Milos Raonic (Thornhill, Ontario) against Israel’s No. 1 player Dudi Sela who defeated the Canadian 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. It was then Canada’s workhorse Vasek Pospisil (Vancouver) in the deciding match against Amir Weintraub. Pospisil pulled through with a victory 6-2, 7-6(3), 6-4 to win the tie for his team. 

After winning the doubles match on Saturday and taking a 2-1 lead, Canada needed to win just one of the two final singles matches to claim victory in the tie. Polansky was a last-minute substitution for Raonic who decided with his support team that he was not ready to play another match after Friday’s loss to Weintraub. Polansky was in tough from the beginning against the No. 96 ranked Sela who after a slightly sluggish start began to move better and grind Polansky down. Polansky had opportunities to get back into the match but was unable to capitalize on most of them converting only one of 10 break point chances which helped Sela on his way to a fairly routine straight sets win and allowed Israel to force a fifth and deciding rubber. 

“It was tough today,” said Polansky. “I came up short on some of the bigger points. I fought hard, but it was just really tough conditions. It was my first live match in a while at Davis Cup and I did my best. Now it is up to Vasek. He has played really well this weekend and our whole team has a lot of confidence in him.” 

The pressure was then squarely on the shoulders of Pospisil who had already played hero twice during the tie, defeating Sela in an epic five-setter on Friday and then beating an established doubles team in Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram on Saturday with partner Daniel Nestor. 

Pospisil was in full control of the match in the first set, breaking Weintraub twice and keeping the points fast and short on his own serve. However, just like in his match on Friday, Weintraub picked up the pace in the second set and took an early lead. But he could not close it out against Pospisil who saved two set points in the tenth game and ultimately took a commanding two-set advantage by winning the tiebreak. He went on to do much of the same in the third, and after a late break, 27 aces and 54 winners, Posipisil served his country back into the World Group. 

“This is the happiest moment of my life and my tennis career,” said Pospisil. “This is something you dream about as a kid, to play for your country and get a win like this. I was feeling pretty tired this morning and I just tried not to let it get to my head. You never think matches like this are going to end and so when you win match point it is shock, relief and a lot of emotion that just knocks you to the ground.” 

Canada now moves on to the World Group for the first time since 2004. Only 16 nations entered in Davis Cup play qualify for the elite World Group. The draw for opponent and choice of ground will take place this Wednesday, September 21 in Bangkok, Thailand. 

“Vasek beat the state of Israel this weekend,” said Canada’s captain Martin Laurendeau. “It wasn’t just a quality team. It was the opponent and the heat and the crowd. It was just a gutsy effort from our horse. Our team has been working to get back to the World Group for seven years now and we are all so happy and so excited to have reached our goal this year. It wasn’t easy. We had to win three ties on the road against tough teams and in tough conditions but it is moments like this that you play for. This is what Davis Cup is all about.” 

Earlier this year, Canada defeated Mexico 4-1 and Ecuador 3-2 in away ties as part of their journey back to the World Group. The World Group first round tie will be played from February 10-12, 2012.