Lorenzo Sonego battled previous Denis Shapovalov in three units to present Italy a 1-0 benefit over Canada of their Davis Cup semifinal on Saturday.
World quantity 45 Sonego sealed a 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (5/7), 6-4 victory in 3hr 14min after back-to-back double faults from 18th-ranked Shapovalov, who had received their solely earlier assembly in Rome earlier this yr.
Canada will look to maintain their bid to succeed in Sunday’s closing alive with world quantity six Felix Auger-Aliassime taking up Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti within the second singles tie.
Shapovalov will then come again on courtroom to affix teammate Vasek Pospisil within the doubles in opposition to Italy’s Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini.
The eventual winners will face 28-time champions Australia who reached their first Davis Cup closing since 2003 on Friday with a 2-1 win over final yr’s runners-up Croatia.
Italy has reached the finals seven occasions, successful the trophy in 1976.
Canada has by no means triumphed within the group occasion, dropping their solely earlier closing in 2019 to Spain.
Eliminated within the qualifying rounds, the Canadians had been handed a wild card.
The invitation to the finals had been initially destined for Serbia, however turned vacant when Novak Djokovic’s aspect changed Russia, the holders expelled over the invasion of Ukraine.