Tennis Canada – Canada to host India in Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group play-offs
– Canadian team looking to keep place in elite World Group for 2018
– Tie set to take place September 15-17, 2017 in Canada

**MEDIA AVAILABILITY** 
Canadian Davis Cup team captain Martin Laurendeau will be available via conference call to discuss Canada’s match-up versus India
TODAY, Tuesday April 11, 2017
1:30 p.m. ET
Call-in: 1-800-817-8873

Toronto, April 11, 2017 – Team Canada will play at home in its quest to stay in the top level of Davis Cup by BNP Paribas as the official draw held at the International Tennis Federation headquarters on Tuesday morning determined Canada will host India in the World Group play-offs. Taking place September 15-17, the venue, court surface, and player nominations will be announced at a later date.  

“We are very happy we will be playing at home again as our Canadian fans have been so supportive in every city we’ve been to and this will give us the best chance to win,” said Canadian team captain Martin Laurendeau. “We know India has been in this position before and will be up to the challenge, but our team will be ready. We definitely feel we are a World Group nation and belong there once again for 2018.”

This will be the third consecutive home tie for Canada, who will be the seeded team with a ranking of No. 16. Most recently, the Canadian squad fell to Great Britain 3-2 in the first round held in front of a record Canadian crowd at TD Place in Ottawa in February. Canada now must win in September to remain in the World Group for another season, a place it has competed every year since 2012. Its best results since becoming a steady World Group nation have been the semifinals in 2013 and quarter-finals in 2015.

Ranked No. 18 in Davis Cup, India defeated Uzbekistan 4-1 in the Asia/Oceania Group I semifinals last weekend to earn the right to compete in the World Group play-offs. This will be the fourth year in a row the Indian team fights for the right to make World Group, though the nation has only participated in the top level of play twice since 1999 – in 2010 and 2011.  

This will mark the first time Canada and India face off in Davis Cup play. Because the two countries have no history, hosting privileges were determined by a draw which was won by Canada. The host city and venue as well as court surface will be announced at a later date.

Davis Cup by BNP Paribas is the largest annual international team competition in sport, with 134 nations participating in 2017. The prestigious Davis Cup trophy has been handed out since 1900. Only the Top 16 nations qualify for the World Group each year, and thus the right to compete for the Davis Cup title.  

About Davis Cup
Davis Cup by BNP Paribas is the World Cup of Tennis. It is the largest annual international team competition in sport, with 134 teams entered in 2017. The competition is 117 years old having been founded in 1900. The title sponsor is BNP Paribas, the Official Bank of Davis Cup. International sponsors are Rolex (Official Timekeeper) and Adecco (Official HR Sponsor), while Head (Official Ball) is an international partner. beIN SPORTS is the Official Global Media Rights Partner. Follow all the action on www.daviscup.com, www.copadavis.com, www.twitter.com/daviscup, 
www.facebook.com/DavisCupTennis, and www.Weibo.com/daviscupofficial.

About Tennis Canada
Founded in 1890, Tennis Canada is a non-profit, national sport association with a mission to lead the growth of tennis in Canada and a vision to become a world-leading tennis nation. We value teamwork, passion, integrity, innovation and excellence. Tennis Canada owns and operates the premier Rogers Cup presented by National Bank WTA and ATP World Tour events, 10 professional ITF-sanctioned events and financially supports 12 other professional tournaments in Canada. Tennis Canada operates national junior training centres/programs in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary. Tennis Canada is a proud member of the International Tennis Federation, the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and the International Wheelchair Tennis Association, and serves to administer, sponsor and select the teams for Davis Cup, Fed Cup, the Olympic and Paralympic Games and all wheelchair, junior and senior national teams. Tennis Canada invests its surplus into tennis development. For more information on Tennis Canada, please visit our website at www.tenniscanada.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
 
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