Félix Auger-Aliassime and Team Canada return to Davis Cup competition this weekend, hosting France at Quebec City’s Videotron Centre with a spot in the Davis Cup Final 8 on the line. Auger-Aliassime will lead Canada in the best-of-five tie, with the world No. 5 taking on Quentin Halys in the second of two singles matches scheduled for Friday night. Despite winning all three of their career meetings on the ATP Tour, Auger-Aliassime remains wary of the Frenchman. “Quentin is a really tough opponent,” Auger-Aliassime told reporters in Quebec City on Thursday. “They are always tough matches against him. I am expecting his best tennis.” It will be Auger-Aliassime’s first Davis Cup appearance since the 2024 group stage and his first time representing Canada at the competition in his home province. It also comes during a period of change in his career. His father, Sam, who operates a tennis academy in the Quebec City area, has taken on an interim coaching role following his son’s split with longtime coach Frédéric Fontang after Wimbledon. Auger-Aliassime arrives in Quebec’s capital looking to regain momentum after a difficult summer. He withdrew before his opening match at last month’s National Bank Open in Montreal because of a back injury, then suffered early exits at a Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati and, most recently, at the U.S. Open. Twelfth-ranked Canada will lean heavily on Auger-Aliassime as it seeks its first-ever Davis Cup victory over No. 6-ranked France. He admits his top-five ranking and home-court advantage have brought heightened expectations. “Obviously, the pressure is on me,” said Auger-Aliassime. “We both want to win, that’s for sure, but I am playing at home and people have been waiting for me. However, when it comes to my preparation and routine, nothing has changed.” Auger-Aliassime owns a 13-4 career record in Davis Cup play, including 10-2 in singles, and enters the tie on a 12-match winning streak in the international competition. The host nation will be without several established players. Montreal’s Gabriel Diallo remains sidelined with a leg injury suffered during his first-round match at the National Bank Open, although he has travelled to Quebec City to support his teammates. Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont., is also absent for undisclosed reasons. These high-profile absences have opened the door for Keegan Rice, a junior at the University of Virginia, and fellow collegiate player Duncan Chan, who will each make their Davis Cup debuts. The roster is rounded out by Liam Draxl of Newmarket, Ont., who will make his fourth consecutive Davis Cup appearance. “It’s an extra motivation, knowing I am not only playing for myself, but for my team,” said Auger-Aliassime. “I try to be a good example every day.” France, meanwhile, is missing Arthur Fils, ranked No. 11 in the world and the winner of last month’s Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati. Fils withdrew from the tie shortly after losing to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round of the U.S. Open, saying on social media that he needed to be cautious with his health following a physically demanding year. France will instead rely on Arthur Rinderknech, ranked No. 31, Luca Van Assche (No. 42), Halys (No. 49) and Benjamin Bonzi (No. 89). At 35, doubles specialist Pierre-Hugues Herbert is the veteran of the team. The tie opens with Draxl facing Rinderknech Friday, followed by Auger-Aliassime against Halys. Saturday’s schedule begins with the doubles pairing of Auger-Aliassime and Duncan Chan against Bonzi and Herbert, followed by the reverse singles matches of Auger-Aliassime against Rinderknech and Draxl against Halys, if necessary. The tie also marks the first time Davis Cup tennis has been played in Quebec City since 1974. Organizers expect upwards of 10,000 fans at each session. “I am expecting the fans to be respectful, but also a loud crowd,” said Auger-Aliassime. “We have a reputation in Quebec of loving our sports and being proud. For me, I take immense pride in being a Quebecer and being Canadian. We’re going to see that pride people have in supporting their team.” Canada, winner of its lone Davis Cup title in 2022, began this year’s path to the Final 8 with a 3-2 victory over Brazil in February. Ten-time champion France advanced with a 3-1 win over Slovakia on home soil. The winner will advance to the Davis Cup Final 8 in Bologna, Italy, in November. The losing side will compete in the Davis Cup first-round qualifiers in February 2027. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2026.
