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It’s hard to keep the faith playing against Milos Raonic – especially indoors – because pretty well half the games are ‘gimmes’ for the big server from Thornhill, Ont.

That was really obvious in his semi-final (Ryan Harrison) and final (Dennis Istomin) victories on the way to defending his SAP Open title in San Jose on the weekend.

The above picture was taken when the Canadian and French Davis Cup teams assembled for the draw ceremony at the Vancouver Lawn Tennis Club last Thursday.

It was a moment when all hopes were permitted, and when there was a terrific sense of anticipation as Canada made an appearance in the 16-nation World Group for the first time since 2004.

The above headline is certainly a little harsh, but everyone knew coming into the first-round Davis Cup World Group tie between Canada and France that Milos Raonic was the key to Canadian success. Canada was No. 14 in the Davis Cup rankings compared to No. 4 for a French team with a talented, experienced and versatile four-man roster.

It was not the conclusion that Canada had hoped for the when Davis Cup World Group first round versus France began on Friday – playing a match with the tie on the line and its best player unable to be out on the court.

But that was the reality when Milos Raonic had to pull out with a knee injury and Frank Dancevic was his substitute.

No. 6 in the world, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, against the No. 178-ranked Frank Dancevic was not really a fair fight and the final score, 6-4, 6-4, 6-1 for the Frenchman was about what was expected.

Robert Bettauer is the CEO for the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence (PISE) and has an extensive history as a senior sports leader in Canada with previous roles as the founding President and CEO of the Canadian Sport Centre Ontario and the Director of Tennis Development for Tennis Canada.  As an athlete Robert won several national tennis titles and was a member of Canada’s Davis Cup Team while also holding an ATP Tour world ranking in singles and doubles for a number of years.  As a national coach Robert ran Tennis Canada’s first Western Canadian high p

Both captains claimed that what transpired in the opening singles of the Canada – France Davis Cup tie was just as expected following a day when the results were Jo-Wifried Tsonga 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 over Vasek Pospisil and Milos Raonic 6-2, 6-4, 7-5 over Julien Benneteau.

“The two best players won,” said French captain Guy Forget. “Both players deserved their wins, and that’s the way it is.”

(Photo Credit: Natalie Boivin)

Milos Raonic put on a display of his tennis at its most aggressive to dismiss France’s Julien Benneteau 6-2, 6-4, 7-5 in Friday’s second singles match and give Canada a 1-1 split of the two opening singles of the Davis Cup World Group tie.