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‘There were key moments when I wished I could have played better, or with more conviction.’ — Gabriel Diallo on 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-7(3) loss to Gustavo Heide.
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Published Feb 06, 2026 • 4 minute read
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Canada’s Gabriel Diallo reacts to losing a game to Brazil’s Gustavo Heide during the third set of a Davis Cup Qualifiers tennis singles match in Vancouver, on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. Photo by ETHAN CAIRNS /THE CANADIAN PRESSArticle content
The Davis Cup betting line was supposed to look like this Friday at the University of British Columbia.
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If Liam Draxl could open by playing tough as nails, and Gabriel Diallo followed with his intimidating cannon-like serve, Canada should sweep its singles matches against Brazil in the Qualifiers First-Round tie at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre — and have momentum heading into final matches Saturday.
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It certainly looked good at the outset with Draxl’s dominant 6-3, 6-3 victory over Joao Lucas Reis Da Silva in just 76 minutes. However, the night would develop into plenty of jaw-dropping drama.
Diallo, who carries a No. 39 ATP ranking, was stunned 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-7(3) by upstart Gustavo Heide, ranked 253rd. The 23-year-old Brazilian had reason to believe he could stage the upset because he matched strong first serves and his volley game was sharp.
By comparison, Dialllo’s serve was there, but his return game wasn’t, especially in crucial points.
“There were details in the important moments and I couldn’t find the aggressiveness required to get those points,” admitted Diallo. “I served really well and felt really confident about it. It was one of those matches where I had small chances here and there and break points, but there were key moments when I wished I could have played better, or with more conviction.
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“Obviously, he (Heide) played amazing and really aggressive, At the end of the day, it come down to whoever is going to take it is going to take it. It’s the Davis Cup. It brings out different emotion for people to play for their country. You have to be ready.”
Gustavo Heide of Brazil returns a shot during his match against Gabriel Diallo of Canada as they play in their Davis Cup Qualifier first round match between Canada and Brazil at Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Arena on February 5, 2026 in Vancouver, Canada. Photo by Jeff Vinnick /Getty Images for ITF
Diallo had 78 per cent first-serve accuracy and won 80 per cent of points and was at 90 per cent with second serves and won 77 per cent of this points. That wasn’t the problem. Lack of consistency with his returns would prove costly and needs improvement.
“Tomorrow is a great opportunity for a better performance and I’m very confident will get our chances to win the tie,” stressed Diallo.
Diallio started the second set with a service break, and then whipped a cross-court winner to go up 4-2. It was a more controlled approach and then breaking Heide for the 6-3 set win seemed to have the 24-year-old Montreal native on the right course to rally back. The crowd was into it. And so was he.
In the deciding set there were bomb serves by Diallo, cross court and forehand winners, but also missing long on returns and one crucial return into the net to make it 5-5. Diallo would again unleash heavy serves to go up 6-5 but then allowed Heide back in to a tiebreaker.
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And that’s where Diallo would loop a return, hit another into the net, go wide on another return and put a return to the net to end it.
“Gabriel fought his way back into the match, and I don’t think he was feeling amazing today, but got really deep into the match to try and pull out a win,” said Canadian captain Frank Dancevic. “It’s Davis Cup. All kinds of things happen.”
As for Heide, the elation was measured because Saturday is another day, but Brazilian captain Jaime Oncins was impressed. His young player met the challenge head on.
“He knew it was going to be a really tough match and knew about Diallo’s serve,” said Oncins. “He managed to return really well during the match, and when the time came, he made really good serves to close it out. The only thing I ask our team is to fight.”
Liam Draxl of Canada reacts after winning his match against Joao Lucas Reis Da Silva of Brazil as they play in their Davis Cup Qualifier first round match between Canada and Brazil at Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Arena on February 5, 2026 in Vancouver, Canada. Photo by Jeff Vinnick /Getty Images for ITFDraxl: “I was hitting my backhand really well’
Draxl started slow with two early double faults and struggled with first serves, but methodically got better and had a service break to go up 3-1 in the first set and went to the net aggressively to find backhand success. The 24-year-old from Newmarket, Ont. broke Da Silva’s service game four times, and his third in the second set was the set clincher.
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“For sure it was nerves at the start, but after that break in the first, it was a tight game and I really started to feel like I was rolling,” said Draxl. “I was hitting my backhand really well and thought I was returning really well, which is important in these conditions.
“Some sweet passing shots and indoors where the courts are fast, it’s important to get to the net.”
The two-day event is a best-of-five competition featuring singles and doubles and the winner advances to the Davis Cup Qualifiers Second Round in September.
Canada is rated ninth and would extend its domination to 11 wins in the last 13 home ties by beating the 18th-ranked Brazilians. The hosts have also prevailed in the last three ties in Vancouver over Spain, Italy and Japan. But Brazil is banking of replicating a 3-1 Davis Cup win over Canada in 2007.
DAVIS CUP SCHEDULE
DAY 2
Saturday
Matches start at 1 p.m. PT (4 p.m. ET) Match #1 – Liam Draxl and Cleeve Harper vs. Orlando Luz and Rafael MatosMatch #2 – Gabriel Diallo vs Joao Lucas Reis Da SilvaMatch #3 – Liam Draxl vs Gustavo Heide*
*If necessary
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