DAVIS CUP FINALS

November 26, 2022

Frank Dancevic

Felix Auger-Aliassime

Denis Shapovalov

Vasek Pospisil

Gabriel Diallo

Alexis Galarneau

Team Canada

Press Conference

AUGERALIASSIME-POSPISIL/Berrettini-Fognini

7-6, 7-5

Team Canada - 2

Team Italy - 1

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Frank, I mean, an incredibly proud day for you and the team. Just evaluate the way things went today.

CAPTAIN DANCEVIC: Yeah, you know, from the first moment we stepped on court, we knew that -- I mean, anything can happen in Davis Cup, and we're here from the first point to the last point. Doesn't matter if we're down a match, a set and two breaks, we're still going to fight till the end.

We got down a match today with Denis. It was tough. Of course it's tough losing the first point. Felix came back again and put us back on the board at 1-1, and we just kept fighting.

Guys came out in the doubles and just played amazing tennis. The whole team, everybody from the staff to the players, everybody was just an amazing team effort. That got us through today.

I'm so proud of this team and so proud of the guys, what they have accomplished, and, you know, we are going to celebrate a bit tonight, for sure, but we have another match tomorrow. That's the ultimate goal is to win the cup, and that's what we are dialed in to do.

Q. Felix, it's been a big day for you. How tired are you? How are you feeling?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: I'm feeling good. Luckily my singles went perfectly for me, not getting broken, kind of, yeah, straightforward match, just like we like them as players. So that went well (smiling).

I felt good in the doubles. It's always good playing with Vasek. Team on the bench was great. I just feel like in Davis Cup there is no time to get tired.

You know, you have to look at the effort Denis gave today also, playing over three hours. Never showing any signs of fatigue or giving up, so that's the kind of spirit you want. I think the whole team is, like Frank said, is locked into the domingo.

Q. Well done to all of you. Apparently Italy cannot beat Canada. We played three times; we lost all times. Felix, you played unbelievable because your opponent today never reached 40. There wasn't one game at deuce on your serve. In doubles, every time you served you have to save breakpoint, you do an ace. I mean, it's very difficult, I mean, to beat you. Can you explain what was the most difficult moment today and tonight? Because twice you were behind one break in both sets.

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yeah, I mean, we faced situations like this also in Valencia, and again, it's the attitude, I think. We got broken, we could get frustrated with the way we missed some shots, but we bounced back really well with the right attitude. That's what got us through in both sets. Yeah, once we took the lead I felt like in the second we were playing great.

At the end, yeah, back against the wall, you just try your best, but luckily today went our way. I'm really happy that it did.

VASEK POSPISIL: Yeah, no, I think as Felix said, I think it came down today to the attitude. I mean, they didn't play poorly. I thought it was a very high level on both sides in the doubles, and I think we, you know, especially played really well as a team.

Our attitude, even when we went down a break early, you know, there was no time to get negative when you're playing Davis Cup and when it's a deciding match. I think that allowed us to break back I think in both sets. I think we broke back right away or very quickly after. We played a really high level I thought throughout the whole match. We were very synchronized.

Q. Congrats. Frank, you changed your doubles team. Can you tell us why you put Felix instead of Denis, and if we can expect the same singles and doubles tomorrow?

CAPTAIN DANCEVIC: I mean, we have so many combinations with our team. Vasek, he plays amazing with both Denis and Felix. It's not really, you know, a big surprise that either guy plays with Vasek.

Denis just played a really long match today. Felix was more fresh. He was feeling great on court. He was fresh going into the match. That was sort of the thought behind the decision.

Denis really left his heart out today. Played a 3 hour, 15 minute match. It was tough coming back to play doubles today when we had Felix who was fresh.

You know, we have that option on our team, which is amazing. Both guys play amazing doubles, and it's going to vary throughout the next tie and throughout the years, depending on how the matches go.

Q. I'd like to know from Shapovalov about the match of today, about Sonego. For us, for Italians, he played an incredible, unbelievable match. What do you rate his performance?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Yeah, I mean, I think anyone that watched the match can say that the level was super, super high. So definitely a tough one to lose for me, for the team. But like they said, I mean, I left everything out there. Sonego was just too good today.

I mean, I had a lot of opportunities, but he was playing big. He was coming up with some big forehands, some big serves and in important times. Big credits to him, you know. I mean, he's won titles. He's beat top players. It shows why.

THE MODERATOR: We will go to the media attending virtually. Go ahead.

Q. A question for Felix. Felix, going back to September and then carrying through to right now, how do you feel about how everything has gone, and how proud are you of the effort the team has made, and especially you?

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Of this tie or last time?

Q. Well, just the overall experience.

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME: Yeah, it's been a special journey, special year. No, I felt like, you know, once we got on the board in Valencia in the group stage, there was a special energy about the team. I think this is the most complete team that we have had in the history of Canadian tennis. I feel, yeah, we deserve to be in that position now.

I have said it many times throughout the years, this is one of the goals I think for all the guys to go far and to win it all. I'm really proud of everybody's effort. It's been a great journey. It's the last day tomorrow of Davis Cup for this year, so we're ready to give it all.

Q. The question is for Denis. First of all, how are you feeling? Secondly, your season was basically over like three weeks ago. You even had your postseason holiday. How difficult was it physically, mentally to come back after that time and rev up the machine and play such high quality tennis, even in defeat?

DENIS SHAPOVALOV: Actually, I feel pretty good. Yeah, it's definitely, you know, going into Davis Cup, it's going to be intense matches. I think I did a pretty good job of kind of getting prepared.

You know, obviously I had the holidays after Paris, but I took a good seven, eight days of training in Marbella before coming over here to play, you know. So I feel good.

I mean, obviously I do want to make a good effort and try to collect as many points as possible for the team, and, yeah, I'm going to do everything I can tomorrow to try to win the singles and ease the pressure a little bit for Felix and for the rest of us.

For sure, I played two tough matches and I have been there in both. I just haven't been able to get the win, but, I mean, I think I have been playing well. The level is really high. There is a lot of positives.