ATP CUP

January 9, 2022

Felix Auger-Aliassime

Denis Shapovalov

Brayden Schnur

Steven Diez

Team Canada

Press Conference

Team Canada - 2

Team Spain - 0

THE MODERATOR: Congrats, Team Canada, to win the third ATP Cup. We would like to hear from the captain, Felix. Did you expect this ending 10 days ago?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Definitely not 10 days ago. We arrived here -- I mean, I landed and got the worst news, I mean, Denis being positive and quarantined, so that was not a good start. Steven as well was in quarantine back home, arrived on the 31st. Our captain is missing due to other reasons.

So, yeah, it was a tough start, but at the end things came in together well after that first tie that we lost 3-0. We bounced back really well against Great Britain. Then I think from that moment we started gaining more and more belief. Of course, being so close to being out of the group and then coming out, you're kind of on that survival mode and I think we just carried that all the way through to today.

As the week went on I think we played some really good matches and we got more and more belief, but I think the trust and the belief never went away the whole week for everybody on the team.

Q. Denis, who gets to sleep with the trophy tonight?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: That's a good question. We'll probably take turns, alternating.

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: We all have a little one, so...

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, we'll all sleep with the little one.

Q. Felix, for a tennis-loving country like Canada, do you have feedback about how big a deal this is back home?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Not yet but yeah, will certainly soon. I hope they love it even more now.

But really, I hope this inspires kids and people back home in these tough times right now. I mean, Canada's been, a lot of provinces have been going down into lockdown again, not going out much. And I hope this gives them, just puts a smile on their face and gives them a little bit of support and hope. And then, yeah, inspires a next generation.

So hopefully Canada wins this trophy many times in the future.

Q. Denis, I appreciate you had variations of this question, but does today's win make the misery of starting the week in isolation a distant memory or can you still project back and think about how unrealistic this title run has been?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: I mean, it's pretty crazy. I think it's a good way to kind of describe the sport of tennis. I mean, it's so unpredictable. I mean, starting the week I didn't even know if I'm going to be able to play, I was hoping to get maybe one match in. Then the rules changed so I was able to get out a little bit earlier, and Stevie as well, I mean, was able to make it here.

And, yeah, we kind of put a team together last minute, kind of put the pieces in. Obviously we had a really tough start, but we kept fighting, kept believing. Felix played a really, really amazing match against Cameron that really put belief in us and we just kind of ran with that momentum throughout the week.

Obviously, so many things still had to go our way. We needed the teams to all kind of split the ties. It was super tough for us going down 3-0 the first day so we needed U.S. to lose, and they did in a crazy match. So just seemed like the pieces were all kind of falling into place.

But definitely huge credits to everyone on the team for believing and fighting and putting the work in. I mean, these guys did such an amazing job on the bench and obviously Felix on the court. I mean, it was just a great team effort.

Q. Brayden and Steven, because we didn't bring you just in here for your good looks, can you talk through what it was like to be part of this experience from the bench?

BRAYDEN SCHNUR: Yeah, my back's pretty sore from carrying this team the last eight days.

But, no, I mean, it's a privilege to be alongside and be team members with these two guys here, and obviously Steven as well. For me it's just a privilege and to see them working so hard, they're getting everything they deserve. I've always believed that hard work pays, and I'm seeing it firsthand. And I'm so glad to be a part of this team and make these memories with these boys.

Q. Steven, what do you take out of the week?

STEVEN DIEZ: What can I say? I got here on the 31st, I didn't even know I was going to be able to come, and as Felix said before, actually got a call from one of the two managers when Denis tested positive. He's like, Are you going to be able to make it? And I'm like, I'm going to try. If I test negative I'll be able to get on the plane; if not, I won't be able to go, because you can't play with just two players, you'll be disqualified, you need at least three.

So being here today with this trophy and this amazing team, I think it's something amazing. I'll be really grateful to these two, they're the present and the future, and they'll probably win this trophy a few more times for sure.

Q. Final question, do you think that this victory can be a springboard not just for you two but for the entire team as individuals for the year ahead?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Well, yeah, I like to believe so. Winning is not easy, it takes a lot of effort, a lot of work, like Brayden said. And I think for sure I think that this momentum, at least for Denis and I, we played matches, but for the other guys, I've been in situations also in the past where I was a part of the team that won something and just that feeling of winning, the confidence that it brings to each individual I think is great. So I think that's why this event is great, it's here to stay.

And, yeah, I hope the best to all the boys for the rest of the season. I mean, we have a lot of belief in each other. So, yeah, hopefully this carries on not just this week but in a lot of months to come.

Q. A Davis Cup final to end 2019 and now you've won the ATP Cup to start 2022. What does this victory mean in terms of putting Canada among the best tennis nations in the world?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, I think it's definitely amazing for the country. It wasn't really a summer country to begin with in terms of sports, but the last I think five years or so it's been really put on the map with the Summer Olympics, so many athletes doing well, and especially in tennis, we have so many great athletes coming out. This is another big step.

I really hope it was able to be seen in Canada, I'm sure it was. And I hope it just gives belief, more belief to everyone there that we are a summer sport country as well. I just hope a lot of kids will start picking up racquets after seeing us competing.

It's pretty special, I think, what specifically me and Felix have, playing since we've been, I mean, little, little children at like five or six years old, all the way up to here. Just competing alongside and being able to win titles like this together, it's something truly special.

I hope that more families do put racquets into kids' hands.

Q. To take that a little bit further, Felix and Denis, you guys have grown up together, to have this great run alongside each other, you've been friends for a long time, not just like regular coworkers for sure. What does it mean to do this side by side?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yeah, like Denis said, it's pretty cool to look back. I mean, yeah, we go way back. I mean, the memory that comes to mind is we won the Junior Davis Cup in 2015 together. Yeah, it was the first time we won something significant for our country and for our personal careers at that age. We have been believing and dreaming for a long time, pushing each other as well and I think we just elevate each other in a really positive and good way.

So, like he said, to think back on those first memories to now being able to lift one of the biggest team trophies in the sport is something truly special. This is possible. I think this just means that we grew up in cities in Canada, like a lot of our peers, like a lot of our friends and now we're standing here with one of the biggest trophies in tennis. So it's really possible.

Q. You guys have your regular doubles partners on the ATP Tour, but you showed us this week what you're capable of when you're teaming up alongside one another, as you mentioned success in the juniors as well. Is it possible, Felix and Denis that we might see you guys play the occasional tournament together when your regular partners aren't there?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Whenever Bopanna decides to retire, I guess. (Laughing) Yeah, maybe I just lost my partner, so for sure, maybe we'll play some doubles.

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: We sure could, yeah, for sure.

Q. Milos and Vasek weren't able to play this event this year, but they have both kind of shown you guys the ropes in a sense of, in terms of growing up and representing Canada in international play. Even though they're not here, how big an impact have both of those guys had in helping develop tennis in our nation?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Sure, I think they had an important impact. They put a lot of belief and other players that, you know, that's something that you could do, being a professional tennis player and play at the highest stages in the sport. I remember Milos making, when he first made the round of 16s in Australia, things like this, I mean, yeah, definitely put stars in my eyes when I was a kid.

And I think now we can just show that this country not only has great players but it has a lot of good players, a lot of players that can compete at the highest level on the tour. I mean, like you said there's Milos and Vasek missing, but here we are with this trophy.

So if we had all of our players, we would be, we're a great nation of tennis, I think we have proved that for sure now and it has to keep going.