It’s the tip of an extremely profitable period for Vasek Pospisil with Canada’s Davis Cup group. The 34-year-old introduced that his doubles match towards Hungary was the ultimate one in all a Davis Cup profession that can go down in Canadian tennis historical past.
He went out in fashion with a classic efficiency alongside Liam Draxl to maintain his squad alive within the Qualifiers First Spherical tie at IGA Stadium. It was one other shining second for Pospisil in Montreal, a metropolis that has all the time embraced him and been the location of many reminiscences, together with his first Masters 1000 semi-final on the Nationwide Financial institution Open introduced by Rogers in 2013. Pospisil’s achievements in tennis are quite a few, together with a Grand Slam doubles title at Wimbledon in 2014 with Jack Sock, however Davis Cup was all the time the match that meant probably the most to him.
“Davis Cup has had such a huge impact on my profession and life. Successful in 2022, I don’t assume I’ve ever wished to win something extra then that title we received there,” Pospisil reminisced about Canada being topped world champions. “I felt like that was a extremely huge, huge second for me.”
Fifteen years of loyalty, 35 ties, and 33 wins, together with 18 in doubles, is the stuff Davis Cup legends are made from and Pospisil actually qualifies. It’s becoming that his curtain name got here alongside his inheritor obvious, Draxl, who rose to the event in his Workforce Canada debut, 17 years after getting his image taken with Pospisil on the U12 Eddie Herr junior match in Florida. It was the veteran passing the torch to the rookie, the identical approach Daniel Nestor paved the best way for Pospisil. The prolific pair performed 11 Davis Cup doubles matches collectively earlier than Nestor retired, leaving Pospisil to take over the reins.
“I used to be so snug on the market simply understanding that Vasek was main the group, that’s how I felt, and I assume that introduced a great degree out of me,” Draxl mentioned. “It was simply tremendous comforting enjoying in an enormous match, down 2-0, him (Vasek) making the calls and I used to be trusting all the things he was telling me on the market. I believe there was loads of belief on the market and I undoubtedly believed in Vasek’s degree and data on the courtroom. I used to be simply form of following his lead and attempting to do the most effective I may.”
Well-known for his infectious vitality on the courtroom by means of the years and talent to raise his recreation when it mattered most, Pospisil instantly discovered himself on the receiving finish of that zeal and need enjoying subsequent to Draxl for the primary time.
READ: Canada Gave It Every little thing at Davis Cup, Now a Powerful Street Begins
“I felt so snug on the market with Liam which speaks volumes for each his ability and vitality, it’s an incredible mixture,” Pospisil defined. I felt like he’s been there for years, I felt like we had performed collectively many instances. He’s an excellent child; a brilliant onerous employee and he’s enjoying nice. He’s received an excellent future forward and there’s no query he’ll be on the group for a few years enjoying doubles.”
There’s no query that Pospisil might be missed by his teammates. His presence was important and the legacy he leaves behind might be felt for generations to return.
“Wonderful man, superb profession. We’re going to overlook him for certain on the group,” mentioned captain Frank Dancevic. “He introduced loads of worth to the group along with his singles and doubles play and his charisma, on and off the courtroom.”
