SCHNUR GETS THE CALL TO OPEN FOR CANADA
Unheralded rookie to face off against India’s No. 1 player in Davis Cup tie
Leading off for Canada, with a record of zero wins, zero losses and zero games played …
Who the hell is Brayden Schnur?
Canada is sending a rookie with no previous experience to the hard court in the Northlands Coliseum to open the best-of-five Davis Cup tie Friday at 3 p.m. against India No. 1 Ramkumar Ramanathan.
When high noon and the deadline to declare his lineup came Thursday at City Hall, Canadian captain Martin Laurendeau decided Vasek Pospisil’s bad back wasn’t sufficiently healed and named Schnur, the 22-year-old first-year pro, as Canada No. 2. What the heck, Canada’s No. 1 will be Denis Shapovalov. He’s a ripe old 18.
Thus, Davis Cup head referee Norbert Peick of Germany put the name Brayden Schnur inside a slit tennis ball with that of Ramanathan for the official draw in the event at City Hall.
When Edmonton alderman Moe Banga drew the ball out of the glass bowl for the opener, there it was.
That left Shapovalov vs. India No. 2 Yuki Bhambri in the second match that’s slated for about 15 minutes following the conclusion of the first contest.
Laurendeau decided to team Pospisil, as per usual in these proceedings, with Canadian doubles legend Daniel Nestor, who is making his 51st Davis Cup appearance at age 45, in Saturday’s 1 p.m. doubles match.
It will be Canada No. 1 vs. India No. 1 — Shapovalov vs. Ramanathan — Sunday at 1 p.m.
If there’s to be a rubber match to follow on Sunday, Schnur has been temporarily pencilled in against India No. 2 Bhambri, although Pospisil may be good to go for that showdown, if necessary.
So what happened?
“We were glad that Vasek is here, actually,” said Laurendeau of determining 27-year-old Pospisil wouldn’t be ready for the lid lifter. “When you pull out of a Grand Slam in singles and doubles like he did at the U.S, Open, you have to make an incredible effort to be here.” Pospisil said he’s oh so close. “I’ve done everything to get ready. Basically I’m not feeling good enough to play Friday but Saturday gives me a little more time.”
Whatever, that sent Toronto area product Schnur into the spotlight at the get-go with next to no notice.
“I found out about 10 minutes before I came out here,” he said at the draw.
“I was really happy just to be nominated to be with these guys here. I’ve always said that playing for Canada is one of the greatest achievements you can have. I’m going to embrace it. I’m really excited.”
From the outside, it likely looked like Schnur was the spare tire on this team. But is that how he saw it?
“I just took the attitude that it’s always best to prepare as if you were going to play. So I did that.”
Schnur said he’s not bothered by having to bat leadoff.
“Honestly, it doesn’t really matter,” he said.
Schnur goes in ranked No. 202 in the world. Ramanathan is No. 154.
“I’ve never played him. But I’ve played a lot of the same tournaments as him, so I’ve seen him quite a bit this summer. He’s a good player. He kind of likes fast courts also, so I think it will be a pretty good match up between us,” said Schnur.
The young Canadian couldn’t help but think Thursday of how he got into tennis by accident.
“I was 12. I was really big into soccer, but my mom couldn’t find anything else for me to get into that summer, other than a half a day of soccer and a half a day of tennis,” he said. “I’m just grateful to compete at the highest level.”
A three-time All-American at the University of North Carolina, Schnur was the International Tennis Association rookie of the year in 2014 and was a hitting partner for the Canadian team as it was preparing for the Davis Cup two years ago.
“Being made the fourth member of the team here was really a step up for me. So I was good with that,” he said. “But Vasek wasn’t ready to go.
“Who knows how it will be by Sunday? But right now, I’m just really happy to be here and I feel ready to embrace the opportunity that Marty and the rest of the team has given me.
“I’ve always dreamed of playing for Canada, walking out on board wearing the jersey and everything. That’s going to be really special for me. I’m going to compete as hard as I can, and hopefully, get a win for the team.”
Hopefully, he adds, Shapovalov can keep his remarkable run going.
“It’s a run that will be remembered for a very long time. He’s great for Canadian tennis and I hope I can follow in his footsteps,” Schnur said.
Maybe by the end of the weekend Canadians will know the name Brayden Schnur.
It’s easier to pronounce than Shapovalov.