Dancevic "wasn't totally surprised" by Shapovalov and Auger-Aliassime skipping Davis Cup

Canada Davis Cup team captain Frank Dancevic claimed to not be surprised when Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime announced they would be skipping this year's Davis Cup, as both men have had an exhausting season.

"Overall, being a tennis player these days is not easy, there’s a lot of travelling, there’s a lot of mental exhaustion for players, and physically it’s also difficult”, said Dancevic.

“It’s understandable that some guys are more prone to being injured and exhausted this time of year. So I wasn’t totally surprised that Shapovalov and Auger-Aliassime withdrew but I understand where they’re coming from."

Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov had excellent seasons, with both men ending the year ranked in the top 15. However, this may have come at a cost, as although each insisted he would love to represent Canada at the Davis Cup, but they were in dire need of a break to recover from nagging injuries.

"They’re team players, they love playing for their country, they’ve been here all the ties in the past since I’ve been captain, and I’m sure they’ll be here in the future if they’re healthy,” added Dancevic.