MONTREAL — Canada must overcome a 2-0 deficit against Hungary to advance in the Davis Cup men's team tennis tournament.
Fabian Marozsan defeated Alexis Galarneau before Marton Fucsovics toppled Gabriel Diallo on Saturday at IGA Stadium, giving Hungary a commanding lead in the best-of-five, first-round qualifier.
“It was a difficult day for us, for sure," Canadian team captain Frank Dancevic said. "That said, we’re down 2-0 but I believe in this team that we can come back tomorrow.
"Win doubles, and I believe with our players that we can win the tie. Even if we’re down 2-0, we can come back and win.”
Maroszan prevailed 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 against Galarneau, of Laval, Que., in the opening match. Montreal's Diallo won his first set, but Fucsovics fired back to take the match 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Fucsovics, a veteran who's currently ranked 96th, saved six of seven break points while breaking No. 85 Diallo four times.
"He started serving better, more solid, giving up less," Diallo said of what changed after the first set. "I had a bad game in the first set, he broke me, and that freed him up. He started playing better, picking his spots on serves. That put pressure on me to serve better and try to do a little more than I needed to.
"I think it's an accumulation of a few small things that turned the match around."
The 176th-ranked Galarneau said No. 58 Maroszan played a complete game in their tight matchup.
"Off of both forehand and backhand, he can generate power and be dangerous," Galarneau said. "But also his serve, I was surprised by serve. I thought he served really precisely and mixed it up quite well, so credit to him."
Vasek Pospisil of Vernon, B.C., and Liam Draxl of Newmarket, Ont., are scheduled to take on Marozsan and Mate Valkusz in Sunday’s must-win doubles match.
If necessary, Diallo would meet Marozsan in a fourth matchup and Galarneau would battle Fucsovics in a fifth.
Dancevic wouldn't reveal if he'd change his lineup now that Canada's back is against the wall.
"Even if I were to change, I don't think I'd tell you right now," he said.
"There's no panic buttons going off right now in the locker room. It is what it is, we're down 2-0, but that's part of being a professional, part of being in this sport is you're always looking for solutions to get back.
"We're not done, we haven't lost, we've always fought to the end in the past."
The winner of the two-day tie advances to the second round of qualifiers in September. The losing team will be relegated to the World Group 1 level.
Canada has lost in the quarterfinals the last two years and won nine of its last 10 home ties.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 1, 2025.
The Canadian Press
