HALIFAX, September 14, 2025 (Tennis Canada Press Release)
The Davis Cup World Group I tie between Canada and Israel concluded on Saturday, with the Canadian team winning 4-0 at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. As a result, Canada has earned a spot in the 2026 Davis Cup Qualifiers first Round, which will take place in February.
“It’s always the hope to win 3-0 in a Davis Cup tie,” said Team Canada captain Frank Dancevic. “The guys came in playing really well and executed from the beginning. I’m very proud of the team, very proud of everyone. We came together as a unit, and played good tennis from start to finish.”
After Gabriel Diallo (Montreal, QC) and Liam Draxl (Newmarket, ON) claimed their singles matches on Friday, Draxl teamed up with Cleeve Harper (Calgary, AB) for doubles, with Team Canada needing just one more win to secure the tie.
In the opening set, Draxl and Harper had their chances, but it was Israel’s Jordan Hasson and Ofek Shimanov who moved ahead in the 11th game, on their first break point opportunity of the match. Despite losing the first set, the Canadian duo refused to let up, breaking their opponents’ next three service games en route to a 5-7, 6-0, 6-4 victory. Draxl and Harper did not face a break point following the 11th game of the opener.
Liam Draxl and Cleeve Harper claim the first win for Team Canada on day two of the Davis Cup!
Les Canadiens Liam Draxl et Cleeve Harper remportent le premier match de la deuxième journée de la Coupe Davis ! pic.twitter.com/D4RwURAKct
— Tennis Canada (@TennisCanada) September 13, 2025
“I mean, we really only played one bad game at five-all to get broken, where they played super well,” said Draxl. “After that, maybe we just got really motivated, and we put it into another gear of intensity, energy, and aggression, and I think that was the difference that allowed us to turn it up a little bit for the rest of the match.”
By taking part in today’s contest, Harper became the 90th Canadian to play in a Davis Cup match. Draxl, who was the 89th player to don the Canadian colours, now has a 3-0 record in the competition.
Prior to the fourth match of the tie, Team Canada captain Frank Dancevic made a lineup change, sending Harper in to replace Diallo, the team’s top-ranked player. With Canada having already clinched the tie, the match was a dead rubber, and the fifth match therefore did not take place. Harper defeated Orel Kimhi, Israel’s top player, in a one-hour and 49-minute contest by a score of 6-3, 7-6(3).
Thanks to its victory over Israel, Canada will advance to the 2026 Davis Cup Qualifiers 1st Round, at a tobe determined location, in February. Canada will find out who its opponents will be after the Davis Cup Finals in November.
