Defending champion Canada enters Davis Cup well aware of challenges ahead

After 109 years, Canada won its first-ever Davis Cup title last year in Spain.

The encore begins on Wednesday.

"It was really important for us to win the Davis Cup," coach Frank Dancevic told CBC Sports. "I think that until you actually do it, it's difficult to believe that it can be done. But now that we've done it, we know that it's possible for us."

The four-man squad includes returning champions Denis Shapovalov (No. 26), Vasek Pospisil (192), Gabriel Diallo (159) and Alexis Galarneau (200).

Shapovalov recently skipped the U.S. Open with an injury, but Dancevic said last Thursday that the Richmond Hill, Ont., native is still planning on travelling to Italy, where the group stage will be held.

Canada faces the home team in its first match Wednesday before meeting Sweden on Thursday and Chile on Saturday. Live coverage each day begins at 9 a.m. ET on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports app and CBC Gem.

WATCH | What to know about the upcoming Davis Cup:

Regardless of the individuals who make up the team, Dancevic, of Niagara Falls, Ont., said that what makes the Davis Cup so special is the opportunity to represent Canada and play for something bigger than yourself.

"The whole team has to come together at the right time to win the entire thing. And it was really a magical moment when Felix won that match point and we won the entire thing," he recalled.

Dancevic, 38, said that in the moments after Auger-Aliassime clinched the Davis Cup title with his singles victory over Australia's Alex de Minaur last November, the team retreated to the locker room and reminisced on its path to the top.

"We couldn't believe it for a long time. We were just really happy and celebrating," he said.

Still, the Davis Cup veteran understood how