Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/1491441
With Canada's breakthrough triumph in last year's competition as inspiration, 24 nations will contest the Davis Cup Qualifiers with their sights fixed firmly on the Finals. Matt Roberts reports. 6 Winter 2022/23 ITF World DAVIS CUP When Canada won last year's Davis Cup by Rakuten Finals in Malaga, it felt fitting that Felix Auger-Aliassime be the one to seal victory. Not only was he in the best form of his life, having just won a hat trick of titles on the European indoor hard courts, but ever since he started breaking records as a junior, there's been something almost mythic about his tennis career. He's known by some players in the locker room as The Chosen One. With Denis Shapovalov by his side, it's as though Felix was destined to take his country to new heights, and Canada's victory over Australia in the final felt like a significant moment, with a growing force in tennis overcoming one of the sport's more traditional powerhouses. "Denis and I grew up together, dreaming of these types of stage, dreaming of winning the Davis Cup," Auger-Aliassime said afterwards. "It's a great moment for myself and for the country." Canada's victory capped a career-best year for Felix Auger-Aliassime