Canada completes stunning Vancouver comeback against Brazil in Davis Cup

There is a specific kind of atmospheric pressure that only exists in the fifth rubber of a Davis Cup tie. It’s a weight that can crush a seasoned pro, let alone a young squad navigating the transition of generations.

Inside the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre this weekend, that pressure was almost tactile. I’ve sat courtside for decades of these ties, through the highs of 2022 and the lean years of the early 2010s, but the 3–2 thriller Canada just eked out over Brazil felt like a masterclass in psychological warfare.

For three days, the narrative flipped more times than a tossed coin. By the time Liam Draxl stepped onto the court for the deciding match against Gustavo Heide, the Canadian “epitaph,” as some were already whispering in the press lounge, seemed written in stone.

The weekend began with a deceptive breeze. Draxl looked untouchable on Friday, dispatching Joao Lucas Reis da Silva 6–3, 6–3. But Davis Cup is rarely that linear.

Gabriel Diallo’s shocking loss to Heide later that day — a grueling three-set heartbreaker — exposed a sudden vulnerability. When Brazil’s Orlando Luz and Rafael Matos snatched a 3–6, 6–4, 7–5 doubles victory on Sunday morning to put the visitors up 2–1, the air in the arena turned cold.

Canada was staring into the abyss. But it was not over. At least, not yet.

The resurgence began with Diallo. The World No. 39 looked down and out, trailing by a set to Matheus Pucinelli de Almeida and facing a break point in the opening game of the second.

In those moments, one generally asks a simple question. Does the player even want to be there? Clearly Diallo did because he found another gear and stormed back to win 3–6, 6–1, 7–6.

“Very happy with [the return of serve],” Diallo said, looking noticeably relieved after the marathon.

“Yesterday, I know things that I did well and carried over today. I kind of wanted to play the important moments with a little bit more of conviction. I think I showcased it in the tiebreaker of the third set with my game. I try to impose myself and kind of not let my opponent dictate which [I’m] very happy that I was able to do it under a lot of pressure.”

Captain Frank Dancevic, who has the unenviable job of managing these emotional swings, was beaming. “They showed incredible character today,” he said.

“It’s not easy coming back after tough losses. It’s a lot of pressure, you know you’ve got to win that match to keep the tie alive. So credit to [Gabriel]. He just decided to go for it when he needed to in the third. He didn’t back down. He faced it and he gave the team a win. So that was huge. There was a lot on his shoulders.”

But the drama wasn’t finished. Liam Draxl, returning to the court just two and a half hours after a draining doubles loss, took on the mantle of the hero.

It nearly ended in disaster when Draxl fell awkwardly, twisting his ankle in the first set. He required a medical timeout and was broken immediately upon the restart. For a moment, 2,500 people held their breath.

Then, Draxl simply took over. He played with a frenetic, infectious energy, leaning into the “This is My House” chants and turning the stadium into a cauldron. He broke back instantly and never looked back, sealing a 6–3, 6–4 win with an ace out wide.

“I’m feeling pretty good right now! It’s a very, top, top, top feeling [that] I’ve never felt in my life – just pure positivity, relief, excitement – an amazing, amazing, amazing moment. I’m just super grateful,” Draxl said, his voice still thick with the adrenaline of the clinch.

“It’s probably the biggest match for my career. Probably the most pressure I’ve had. It means so much to me to play for your flag, for your country, to book a spot for the next tie in September. I’m just super happy that all of us could advance.”

Dancevic recalled a quiet moment of confidence before the storm. “At 1-2, [Liam] said, ‘Hey Frank, I’m feeling really good right now.’ and I felt that’s a good thing to hear when you’re a captain in the fifth match. Right there, I like that because he was calm. He felt like he had the match.”

Canada now looks toward a September date with either France or Slovakia. This weekend was a reminder that while rankings matter, the Davis Cup cares very little for them.

“A lot of respect for Brazil. They fought really hard, all their players played really well, they battled all really hard,” Draxl noted. “And that’s Davis Cup, these experiences, these feelings. I think there’s a Davis Cup saying, ‘anything can happen in Davis Cup!’, it’s just different, there’s upsets and the highs and lows.”