Canada Leads Over France in Davis Cup After Auger-Aliassime and Draxl Victories

“It’s a big relief,” Auger-Aliassime said. “There’s a lot of emotions after so much anticipation for this match over many months. It’s a great way to begin, but it’s just the start. It’s a step in the right direction, but nothing has been decided yet.”

With this victory, Auger-Aliassime improved his Davis Cup record to 14-4, including an 11-2 singles record, and extended his winning streak to 13 consecutive matches in the competition, nine of which were in singles. This was his first Davis Cup participation in two years and his debut representing Canada in his home province.

“It’s a dream to play here, I’ve said it many times,” he stated, acknowledging support from the entire team and Tennis Canada.

The match began with both players holding serve until Auger-Aliassime edged Halys in a tight tiebreak. Halys broke Auger-Aliassime's serve early in the second set but could not maintain the lead. In the final set, Halys succumbed to three consecutive double faults, allowing Auger-Aliassime to regain control and close out the match.

Earlier on Friday, Liam Draxl delivered a significant upset by defeating world No. 31 Arthur Rinderknech 6-2, 7-5. The Newmarket, Ont., native, currently ranked outside the top 200, showcased aggressive play throughout the match, earning his fourth Davis Cup singles victory.

“I'm just super proud of how I managed myself out there,” Draxl said. “I really went for it.” He described the win as “the biggest win” of his career and expressed his affinity for team environments.

Canadian captain Frank Dancevic acknowledged Draxl's impressive performance as a confidence booster for his career. “From the first point to the last point, he had unbelievable energy. He played great tennis,” Dancevic remarked.

France now faces a challenging situation, requiring three consecutive wins on Saturday to claim the tie. “There’s disappointment in trailing 2-0. The guys gave everything they had on the court,” said France's captain Paul-Henri Mathieu.

The schedule for Saturday includes a doubles match, with Auger-Aliassime partnering with Duncan Chan against Benjamin Bonzi and Pierre-Hugues Herbert. Despite Canada’s lead, Auger-Aliassime emphasized the need to remain focused. “We're going to do everything in our power to keep the lead we worked hard to build tonight,” he said, anticipating a strong response from France. The reverse singles matches, featuring Auger-Aliassime against Rinderknech and Draxl against Halys, will follow if necessary.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Sept. 18, 2026.