Following the conclusion of the 2025 US Open, some ATP stars will have a few days to recuperate before representing their country at the upcoming Davis Cup World Group stage this weekend from September 12-14.
Canada is one of the teams battling for a spot in the Davis Cup finals, and they will be taking on Israel in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Canada’s last Davis Cup tie was in February, 2025 when they hosted and lost to Hungary in a first round tie.
The North Americans will be hoping to establish their winning ways when they take on Israel this weekend. However, they will be without the advantage of home spectators, as it was revealed the international tie will take place without a crowd.
Team Canada released a statement on Tuesday, stating the tie will take place without spectators due to escalating safety concerns. The decision was made decision in consultation with the International Tennis Federation, as said intelligence from local authorities and national security agencies indicated a risk of significant disruption to the event.
There had been a massive call to cancel the event, leading to security concerns
Reports came in stating over four hundred academics, activists, athletes and writers had urged Tennis Canada in an open letter to cancel the event amid Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. This prompted organizers to make the decision to have the event behind closed doors, in the interest of public safety.
“At the heart of this difficult decision is our responsibility to protect people while ensuring that this Davis Cup tie can still take place,” Tennis Canada CEO Gavin Ziv said in a news release. “We were forced to conclude that playing behind closed doors was the only way to both safeguard those involved and preserve the event itself.”
Team Canada will be spearheaded by rising Canadian star Gabriel Diallo, who will take the reins following the withdrawal of Felix Auger-Aliassime. The top-ranked Canadian opted to sit out of the Davis Cup tie after reaching the semifinals at last week’s US Open, where he lost to former World No.1 Jannik Sinner.
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