March 23, 2022 A Look at Canada’s Davis Cup History The road to the top Our Canadian tennis family’s dream of a lifetime has become a reality. Canada’s Davis Cup win is unbelievable for many of us who have lived hoping for the realization of us being Champion of the World. The Davis Cup competition was first played in 1900 when the USA played Great Britain at the Longwood Cricket Club in Boston, with the USA winning 3-0. From 1900 through 1926, the Cup was won by only three nations, Australasia, the British Isles and the USA. France and their team, known as the Four Musketeers, went on a six ..read more

Canada’s Giant Bob Bedard ONcourt: Robert Bédard (born 13 September 1931) is a Canadian former tennis player and educator. Bédard was considered among the top ten clay court players in the world and was the top-ranked Canadian singles player in ten years between 1955 and 1965. Bédard won three Canadian Open singles titles in 1955 (over Henri Rochon in the final), 1957 (over Ramanathan Krishnan in the final) and 1958 (over Whitney Reed in the final). Bédard won a record seven Quebec Open singles championships and three Ontario Open singles titles. He won the U.S. Eastern Clay Court Championshi ..read more

The Friendly Giant Tony Bardsley ONcourt: Tony Bardsley, the friendly giant came from a great Vancouver tennis family who was ever present in the BC tennis community. Tony was a Canadian Singles Champion and three times doubles Champion. He was part of the first Canadian team regrouping at UBC under the direction of former Davis Cup player Paul Willey. On that team were Don McCormick, Keith Carpenter, Barry Shakespeare, Bob Bardsley, Bob Moffat, Cam Dalgleish, Vic Rollins, Alan Skelton and Pierre Lamarche. Tony played in seven ties for Canada OC: What do you remember from your Davis Cup experi ..read more

Davis Cup Reflection Robert Bettauer From left to right: Josef Brabanec sr, Dale Power, Josef Brabanec jr, Robert Bettauer and Martin Wostenholme – November 1979 ONcourt: Robert has lived more ties than anybody in Canadian Davis Cup history next to Marty Laurendeau. His calculated, committed service to the Cup finally was rewarded by being part of the winning journey as the commentator for Canada’s greatest achievement. Robert Bettauer: Canada winning the Davis Cup for the first time in history is indeed a new high for Canadian Tennis and the achievement of a challenging vision that we boldly ..read more

Gold Medal Winner: 26 years on Davis Cup Team Daniel Nestor ONcourt: Nestor won 91 men’s doubles titles (with 11 different partners), including an Olympic gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, four Tour Finals titles, and twelve major doubles titles attained with seven different partners (eight in men’s doubles and four in mixed doubles). Nestor was the first man in history to win every major and Masters event, the Tour Finals, and an Olympic gold medal. He was a member of the Canadian Davis Cup team from 1992 to 2018. He first came to p ..read more

The Architect Louis Borfiga OC: Borfiga is the man who has brought through a generation of Canadian talent – Milos Raonic, Eugenie Bouchard, Bianca Andreescu, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov and Leylah Fernandez, a golden list that is the envy of many of many countries, where the situation is more complicated at the moment. There’s No Reason for it Not to Happen in France Louis was recently appointed to the Order of Canada. OC: Did you watch Canada’s win? LB: I was in front of my television living the match in very intense way. OC: What made it possible ..read more

Bob Wood ONcourt Hall of Fame ONcourt: Bob Wood never played Davis Cup, and never coached Davis Cup. Bob was a nationally ranked player and served as a national coach with some of Canada’s junior teams. Most importantly, he was instrumental in helping pave the way for Canada’s success on the world scene. ONcourt wants to recognize the work which helped create the focus and Pathway that has led to Canada’s Davis Cup win.  By Pierre Lamarche In 1988, I was approached by Tennis Canada to participate in a new initiative championed by Sport Canada to create quadrennial plans for all national s ..read more

The post Roland Garros 2022 – A Pictorial Essay by Peter Figura first appeared on ONcourt ..read more

Editor’s Note: The Mboko family has four exceptional children. From the age of 4, the youngest one, Vicky, demonstrated the attitude that makes her one of Canada’s brightest hopes. We reached out to her after her first WTA championship in the 25 K Saskatoon event. Earlier this year, she reached the finals of the 25 k in Monastir, Tunisia. More recently, she got into the semis of Junior Wimbledon in singles and the finals of the doubles with Canada’s other rising star Kayla Cross.     OC: How did you feel on Sunday after your first WTA event I felt thrilled and shocked that I had won ..read more

Editor’s Note: The success of Alejandro when others questioned his potential is the best example of “The key to success is determination and perseverance.” His ascension would never have occurred without his family’s total commitment and support.  OC: Alejandro, you started your tennis career in Canada. Can you talk to us about that experience and what you remember most? Yes, my tennis career started at a very young age in Canada. I remember driving early mornings with my parents to ACE in Burlington and training all day. It involves sacrifices from a young age. Thankfully my family suppo ..read more