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Although world No.29 Felix Auger-Aliassime is Canada’s top-ranked man, he will not be on court for the men’s singles rubber against Chile this morning.
Instead, it will be world No.314 Steven Diez who will take on Chilean world No.19 Nicolas Jarry.
Auger-Aliassime said he arrived in the country on Christmas Eve in preparation for a busy Australian summer swing, but has hit a hurdle in his preparations.
“I wanted to play … (but) in the last few days, something came up again with my knee, I started getting pain again,” he said on Nine’s broadcast.
“That’s the good thing with a team event – the second player can come in and play, and I can see if later in the event I can be ready to play again.”
Given the relative inexperience of the Canadian side, they will be hoping Auger-Aliassime is fit for Canada’s second tie against Greece next Wednesday.
While this is Canada’s first appearance at the mixed United Cup, Auger-Aliassime led Canada to victory in its previous guise as the men’s teams event the ATP Cup.
“I have good memories here, so If we can mix the success the girls have had in teams events, and that we’ve had on the men’s side, mix it together and win the United Cup, it would be great for us.”
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