With top stars absent, Diallo leads Canada into Davis Cup qualifier against Hungary in Montreal

Gabriel Diallo is back home and tasked with leading Canada once again.

With top Canadians Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov absent, Diallo headlines this weekend's squad for a Davis Cup tie against Hungary.

The 23-year-old from Montreal triumphed in his hometown a year ago with two singles wins against South Korea at the men's team tennis tournament, setting up his best season yet in 2024.

Now ranked a career-high No. 85 — nearly 50 spots higher than 12 months ago — the six-foot-eight, 198-pound Diallo is approaching this weekend with his usual calm but confident attitude.

"It feels the same whether I'm No. 1-ranked or number 50 [in Canada]," he said after Friday's draw. "I'm ready for everything, and I'm just going to do my part the best I can."

Alexis Galarneau of Laval, Que., will meet Hungary's Fabian Marozsan on Saturday to open the best-of-five first-round qualifier.

Diallo drew Marton Fucsovics in Saturday's second match. He hopes to pick up where he left off on the indoor hard court at IGA Stadium, which seats 2,000.

"Doing it here in Montreal last year was quite special, especially here for me," he said. "It's the club where I grew up playing. I don't live far from here, so seeing so many familiar faces in the crowd was quite special.

"Gives you a good momentum, especially if you manage to get the win like last year, and hopefully we can have a similar result this year."

Team Canada presented by IGA lineup for the Davis Cup Qualifiers 1st Round