MONTREAL 鈥� The first-round Davis Cup qualifier between Canada and Hungary will be played at Montreal's IGA Stadium, Tennis Canada said Monday.
The winner of the Feb. 1-2 best-of-five tie on the indoor hardcourt will advance to the second round of qualifiers in September. The losing team will be relegated to the World Group 1 level.
"There's no better feeling than playing in Canada, representing your country, and having the entire crowd behind you," team captain Frank Dancevic said in a statement. "We will be counting on the support of the fans in Montreal as we gear up for what we expect to be a hard-fought battle against a strong Hungarian team."
Canada won the Davis Cup for the first time in 2022 and has been eliminated in the quarterfinals - now called the Final 8 - in each of the last two years.
Montreal also served as a first-round qualifier host last February when Canada defeated South Korea 3-1. Canada has won nine of its last 10 home ties.
鈥淲e are all extremely excited to be hosting another Davis Cup event and returning to Montreal's IGA Stadium,鈥� said tournament director Valerie Tetreault.
Canada holds the No. 3 position in the Davis Cup rankings while Hungary is ranked 22nd. The teams have never met in Davis Cup competition.
Two singles matches will be played Feb. 1. A doubles match and two more singles matches are scheduled for Feb. 2.
Canada lost to Germany last month in Malaga, Spain. Daniel Altmaier defeated Montreal's Gabriel Diallo 7-6 (5), 6-4 and Jan-Lennard Struff edged Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont., 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5).
The winners of the second-round qualifiers will join host Italy in the 2025 Final 8 in November.
Italy won its second straight Davis Cup title last month with a 2-0 victory over the Netherlands.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 16, 2024.
The Canadian Press
