Dancevic, Pospisil to open Canada’s Davis Cup tie against Chile

HALIFAX — Frank Dancevic and Vasek Pospisil will play Canada’s opening singles matches when it faces Chile in Davis Cup action this weekend.

The draw for the world group playoff tie was held Thursday. The competition begins Friday at Scotiabank Centre with the winner earning a spot in the World Group next year.

Dancevic, a native of Niagara Falls, Ont., ranked No. 236 in the world, will face Chile’s Christian Garin (No. 260) in the opening singles match. Then Pospisil, of Vancouver and ranked No. 120, plays Nicolas Jarry (No. 423).

Pospisil and Toronto’s Adil Shamasdin will take on Jarry and Hans Podlipnik-Castillo in doubles Saturday.

On Sunday, Pospisil faces Garin in reverse singles before Dancevic takes on Jarry.

Canada will be minus Milos Raonic of Thornhill, Ont., and Toronto’s Daniel Nestor, who are both injured. Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont., rounds out the Canadian squad.

“We’ve had a great week of preparation and we are ready and eager to get going,” Canadian team captain Martin Laurendeau said. “The conditions here suit our team and the style of play we want.

“This is a court that has been good for us in the past and we are hoping to have a loud and supportive home crowd behind us to spur us on. That’s part of the reason why home court is such an advantage in Davis Cup.”

Canada needs a victory to secure its spot in the elite 16-team World Group for 2017. A loss would relegate the Canadians back to Americas Zone Group I for the first time since 2011.

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