The April 7 to 9 Davis Cup tennis match between Mexico and Canada is the most important match for the Mexican squad in five years, main team member Miguel Gallardo told Mexican media on Wednesday.

"I am physically and mentally well, and keen to win the series: the most important Mexico has played for five years," said Gallardo, who made his international tennis debut against Canada in 2001.

Next week's David Cup heat, part of the Americas Group 1 second round, will be as "hard and difficult" as the 2001 matches, he forecast. Mexico was knocked out by Canada in the 2001 and 2002 Davis Cups.

However, he said the Mexican team is feeling very confident because it is playing at home, in Mexico City, which is 2,240 meters above sea-level and moral is also high thanks to February's victory over Venzuela.

Santiago Gonzalez, Bruno Echegary and Daniel Garza will play along side Gallardo next week. The winner of next week's heat will go on to battle a loser from the higher-rated World Group -- the highest level Davis Cup grouping -- for the right to be in next tournament's World Group. Chile and Spain are among the existing World Group losers.

Editor: Donald