MONTREAL — A two-year-old Alexis Galarneau made his displeasure clear when his mom pulled a bicycle with coaching wheels out of the storage for him to journey.
If his brothers may cruise on two wheels, why couldn’t he?
“He was insulted, at two years previous. He was actually like ‘hey, no, no, no,’” mentioned his mother, Chantal. “He was all the time desirous to be nearly as good as his brothers.”
His brothers Max-Olivier and Felix had been 10 and eight, however Chantal finally caved to her petulant toddler’s calls for.
“I eliminated the wheels, and after two, three tries he was capable of go together with solely two wheels,” she mentioned. “I used to be like, ‘OK, my God, it’s a Guinness Document.’”
Twenty-two years later, Galarneau resides as much as his early athletic promise because the fourth-ranked Canadian singles tennis participant on the ATP Tour — 211th general — and a member of Canada’s Davis Cup-winning crew in 2022.
The 24-year-old from Laval, Que., is hoping to assist his nation regain that title after shedding to Finland within the quarterfinals final yr.
He’ll be on the courtroom in a Davis Cup qualifier in opposition to South Korea this week at Montreal’s IGA Stadium — not removed from the place his tennis profession kicked off.
Galarneau, alongside greatest buddy Felix Auger-Aliassime, watched from the stands the final time Canada performed a Davis Cup tie in Montreal.
Led by then-world No. 15 Milos Raonic, Canada beat South Africa 4-1 to advance to the Elite 16 in 2012.
Galarneau now joins Raonic, Montreal’s Gabriel Diallo, Vasek Pospisil of Vernon, B.C., and Liam Draxl of Newmarket, Ont., on Canada’s crew. Play begins with two singles matches Friday, adopted by two singles rubbers and a doubles match Saturday.
“You might actually really feel the eagerness that the gamers performed with and the pleasure to symbolize Canada,” Galarneau mentioned of his expertise in 2012. “I do not forget that impressed me to sooner or later grow to be part of that crew.”
Rising up because the youngest in a household of 4 energetic youngsters — Galarneau additionally has an older sister, Emilie-Anne — formed who he’s at this time, Chantal says.
Something his brothers did was honest recreation for the younger Galarneau, be it biking, hockey (their dad Eric performed main junior), soccer or speedskating.
When he was eight years previous, Galarneau picked up a racket after watching his brothers taking part in tennis at Parc Champfleury exterior their residence in Laval.
“I used to be simply watching them play, and needed to become involved with them,” mentioned Galarneau. “Instantly they noticed the potential in me, in order that they advised my dad and mom.”
At 11, Galarneau joined Tennis Canada’s nationwide coaching program in Montreal earlier than leaving at 17 to play at North Carolina State College, the place he earned a level in finance, till 2021.
Final yr, he reached a career-high singles rating of 162, gained an ATP Challenger event in close by Granby, Que., and performed within the Australian Open and U.S. Open principal attracts.
He additionally beat No. 38-ranked Lorenzo Sonego 7-6 (8), 6-4, in Canada’s Davis Cup group stage win over hosts Italy in September.
The win kicked off a run of 5 straight victories (two in singles, three in doubles) on the Davis Cup.
“Any time that I can play and symbolize Canada on a worldwide scene, I positively really feel extra motivation,” Galarneau mentioned. “It sort of fuels me to play my greatest tennis, play for my teammates, play for my nation or household.”
Galarneau skipped the Australian Open and took the early a part of the 2024 season off to heal an upper-body damage forward of Canada’s Davis Cup tie.
He doesn’t but know the way a lot motion he’ll see in opposition to a “difficult” South Korean crew, however says he’ll be prepared if captain Frank Dancevic calls on him to take the courtroom.
“I really feel like I can tackle a much bigger function right here yr after yr,” mentioned Galarneau, who’s getting into his third yr on the Davis Cup crew.
BIG DREAMS
In contrast to his contemporaries Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov, Galarneau wasn’t prepared to show professional proper out of the nationwide program and went to school.
Regardless of taking an extended route, he’s nonetheless setting excessive profession targets.
“I wish to be a high 25 participant,” he mentioned. “No matter it requires, I’ll do it.”
FAMILY KEEPS HIM HUMBLE
In spite of everything these years, Galarneau nonetheless performs the function of little brother searching for approval from his older siblings when the household gathers — whilst a high-achiever in tennis.
“Typically Alexis does one thing on TV or within the newspapers, and naturally his siblings are like ‘wow,’” Chantal mentioned. “However each time everybody will get collectively it’s like, ‘no matter, you’re nonetheless Alexis — the little bro.’”
MENTAL TIMEOUT
Off the tennis courtroom, Galarneau is a psychological well being ambassador for Tennis Canada as a part of its Psychological Timeout program, which has the purpose of enhancing the well-being of tennis gamers in Canada.
“For me, tennis isn’t just successful titles,” he mentioned. “It’s additionally the influence which you could have on younger youngsters and simply society as a complete, and I feel psychological well being is without doubt one of the greatest matters that we needs to be speaking about.”
