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TORONTO – No Félix Auger-Aliassime and no Milos Raonic as Tennis Canada names its squad for the group stage of the Davis Cup finals, which will be played in Bologna, Italy the week after the US Open.

Canada is the reigning champion, and there was a lovely ceremony Monday in Toronto on opening night of the National Bank Open.

The squad – at least the preliminary list – includes Denis Shapovalov, Vasek Pospisil, Gabriel Diallo and Alexis Galarneau as Canada competes in Group A with Italy, Sweden and Chile from Sept. 12-17.

Countries are allowed to name five players to the squad. So it’s always possible another player might be added before play gets under way.

A year ago, Félix Auger-Aliassime wasn’t on the initial list, wanting to wait to see what kind of a run he could put together at the US Open before committing.

In the end, though, with good pals Galarneau and Diallo in the mix, and a shorter-than-hoped-for run at Flushing Meadows, he joined the group for both the group stages (where Canada only slipped in because Russia wasn’t allowed to compete) and the final stages, which they won.

No FAA, no Shapovalov for Davis Cup final rounds

How about Milos?

Open Court spoke to Milos Raonic about the possibility of playing Davis Cup, after his run in Toronto this past week.

He said he had indeed spoken to Tennis Canada people about the possibility. But given that he’s had trouble putting together multiple matches in a week since his return, he couldn’t commit to anything.

Raonic’s focus is the upcoming US Open after withdrawing from Cincinnati.

So he’s an unlikely add, as Raonic has played just once since 2015 (in the 2018 World Group playoff that was held at home in Toronto). But he’s not a definite no at this point, so there’s always hope.

Strong lineups

The other nations also made their announcements today. And there are some strong teams – notably, Italy, which is the “home nation” in Canada’s group, is bringing its biggest guns.

Italy, which will be Canada’s biggest obstacle in the group stages, will have National Bank Open champion Jannik Sinner, Lorenzo Musetti, Matteo Berrettini, Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini (ooofffff).

Great Britain (also the “home” team, in Manchester), will have Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans AND Andy Murray.

Carlos Alcaraz is in the lineup for Spain (we’ll remember how half-baked he was last year, coming to Davis Cup straight off his US Open title). So is Toronto semifinalist Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Serbia will have Novak Djokovic. Stan Wawrinka will play for Switzerland.