Ontario Tennis at the Davis Cup

Photos by Peter Figura

Spring 2017

The much anticipated Davis Cup tie between Canada and Great Britain was held the weekend of Feb 4 to 6 at the TD Arena in Ottawa. Both teams were missing their star ‘top ten’ singles players. Team GB was therefore considerd the favourites. But in Davis Cup strange things can happen. Would the cheering home team fans provide their players with the adrenalin needed to bring the Canadians victory?

Players warm up as the capacity crowd assembles in the arena specially prepared for the event.

British fans cheer and sing, many sporting blue shirts declaring their admiration for Dan Evans, as they Back the Brits.

Overall there were more Canadian fans sporting the maple leaf than Brits at the event with some donning flags as well as uniforms and war paint.

However, the Canadian fans could hardly match the sartorial elegance of these Union Jack blazers.

Vasek Pospisil focuses on his backhand drive en route to a 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (7-3) win over Kyle Edmund.

Dan Evans grits his teeth as he steps into the court on his serve in his opening match win against Denis Shapovolov.

Pospisil eggs himself on with a clenched fist as he finds the best form in several months of play, despite an injured knee.

Pospisil looks to the crowd for inspiration, while the officials remain unmoved and stone-faced as they watch and wait.

Daniel Nestor, playing in his 50th Davis Cup tie, still plays world-class doubles despite being 44 years of age.

Daniel prepares to cross the net and volley in the hard fought doubles match. Team GB’s Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot would go on to win 7-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-3.

Denis Shapovalov looks slightly dazed as he poses for a formal photo with Kyle Edmund before the final singles match, which would determine the result of the tie.

Denis reaches wide to return serve against Kyle Edmunds from Great Britain. Denis eventually lost the match but gained fans and the future looks bright for the 17year old.

Denis buries his head in a towel as he comes to grips with how his uncontrolled emotional outburst ends the tie with an injured chair umpire and a match disqualification.