IN November, the 2021 Davis Cup takes place across three cities in Europe as 18 teams aim to lift the ultimate international men’s team prize. Six groups of three sees the group winner automatically advancing to the knockout quarter finals, with the two next best nations also moving through. In the lead-up to the event, Rookie Me Central will be previewing each of the nations in reverse world ranking order.

CANADA

Rank: 6th

Captain: Frank Dancevic

The stars are aligning for sixth ranked Canada, who are hoping to go one better in 2021 than their runner-up effort to Spain back in 2019. The North American nation has benefited from the rise of Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov in recent years, to combine for a formidable one-two punch in the singles. Both are also ranked highly in doubles, but the question will be whether or not captain Frank Dancevic will utilise them for that, especially in the group stage. There is little doubt the Canadians should trump both Sweden and Kazakhstan, with the matches not only against much lower ranked nations, but with a nice three-day gap between them, the longest of any nation.

No doubt Canada’s loss at the hands of Spain in 2019 will be something the Maple Leafs look to bounce back from, and progressing through to the knockout stage of the tournament seems a foregone conclusion. Possessing a strong side only missing Milos Raonic from its best possible lineup, it gives Brayden Schnur a chance to shine in the group stage if required. Peter Polansky is ranked 153rd in doubles, but is the experienced one, with Schnur having the second most tournaments and ranked at 280th. Expect Polansky to play with any one of the other four members, though deep in the tournament, it is anticipated the top two singles talents might be asked for double duty.

From a group stage perspective, Alexander Bublik looks to be the only one set to give Canada any worries, though the Kazakhstan doubles combination is also ranked higher, with Andrey Golubev (28th) and Aleksandr Nedovyesov (75th) capable of rolling the Canadians if Auger-Aliassime or Shapovalov somehow stumble in the singles. Expect the North Americans to advance to the knockout stage of the tournament though, and potentially go all the way. The big issue may well be in the quarter finals, where both Spain and Russia from Group A are likely to advance against a weak Ecuador, and therefore Canada would face one of those sides, both more than capable of making a run to the title with multiple Top 20 players and strong doubles combinations.

Prediction: 1st in Group B

IN A SENTENCE: “Canada should be able to clear Group B and advance to the knockout stage, but it is much tougher going from there, with a fellow title contender likely to await them in the final eight.”

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