Felix Auger-Aliassime has become the voice of Team Canada heading into one of the most unusual Davis Cup ties in recent memory. Before Canada took the court in Halifax against Israel, the 24-year-old spoke about his role, the responsibility of representing his country, and why he prefers to leave political debates to others.

Tennis Canada’s decision to stage the tie behind closed doors — no spectators, no media — has been the defining storyline of the week. The federation cited intelligence from local authorities and national security agencies pointing to a risk of “significant disruption” if the matches were open to the public. The move was met with immediate protests from groups calling for Israel’s suspension from the Davis Cup, but inside the arena, the tennis has gone Canada’s way.

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