Felix Auger-Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov give Canada 1st Davis Cup title

Canada received its first Davis Cup title on Sunday, beating Australia behind victories from Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Auger-Aliassime secured the profitable level when he downed Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-4 after Shapovalov opened the day by rolling previous Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-2, 6-4. Seven years after main Canada to the highest of junior tennis, Auger-Aliassime, Shapovalov and their teammates lastly received to elevate the highest workforce trophy of their sport.

“I think of us all here, we’ve dreamt of this moment,” Auger-Aliassime stated.

Shapovalov had dropped each his singles matches this week and wanted therapy on his again throughout a three-set loss Saturday within the semifinals to Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego that lasted 3 hours, quarter-hour. But the left-hander moved rapidly across the court docket Sunday, establishing angles to place away winners whereas racing to a 4-0 lead within the first set.

Auger-Aliassime then completed off his very good second half of the season by finishing an ideal week in Spain. He twice had saved the Canadians alive after Shapovalov dropped the opening singles match, and on Saturday he changed his weary teammate to affix Vasek Pospisil for the decisive doubles level.

This time, Auger-Aliassime made certain the doubles match wouldn’t even be needed. He fell onto his again behind the baseline after the profitable level earlier than teammates raced off the Canada bench to leap on prime of him. They then received up and danced round in a circle.

Canada had reached the ultimate solely as soon as, falling to host Spain in Madrid in 2019, when Rafael Nadal beat Shapovalov for the clinching level after Auger-Aliassime had misplaced within the opening match.

But with Auger-Aliassime having since surged up the rankings to his present spot at No. 6, the Canadians are a way more formidable workforce now. They received the ATP Cup in January and eventually added the Davis Cup crown to the junior Davis Cup title Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov led them to in 2015.

“We wanted to grow up and be part of the team and try to help the country win the first title,” Shapovalov stated, “so everything is just so surreal right now.” Australia was making an attempt for its twenty ninth title and first since present captain Lleyton Hewitt was a part of the title-winning workforce in 2003.