Could 2022 be the 12 months that Canada goes all the best way on the Davis Cup Finals?
Led by World No. 6 Felix Auger-Aliassime, the North American nation is now only one tie away from a historic maiden triumph within the workforce occasion after it secured a semi-final comeback victory towards Italy on Saturday in Malaga.
Auger-Aliassime was the important thing to the Canadian’s 2-1 victory within the tie. Although Lorenzo Sonego moved Italy forward with an epic 7-6(4), 6-7(5), 6-4 triumph towards Denis Shapovalov within the opening singles rubber, the 22-year-old Auger-Aliassime downed Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-4 to stage proceedings in Spain.
Canada captain Frank Dancevic then made a late change to his doubles line-up for the decider, calling up Auger-Aliassime to companion Vasek Pospisil towards Matteo Berrettini and Fabio Fognini. The plan labored, because the Canadians broke their opponents’ serve 3 times en path to a 7-6(2), 7-5 win that set a closing conflict on Sunday towards Australia.
“That’s the benefit of having many good gamers on the workforce,” mentioned Auger-Aliassime. “I really feel like Denis and Vasek performed very well yesterday to return again and win, however Denis had a protracted match, and we knew coming this week that we might make some adjustments relying on how singles went.
“I really feel like the entire workforce linked round this concept and there was no ego within the fallacious place. Everybody simply has the clear thought of the principle purpose, which is lifting the cup tomorrow.”
Canada reached the Davis Cup closing for the primary time in 2019. On that event, Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov have been overwhelmed by Roberto Bautista Agut and Rafael Nadal, respectively, to fall agonisingly wanting successful a primary Davis Cup crown for his or her nation.
“Making the finals is at all times a tremendous feeling, and I actually consider on this workforce,” mentioned captain Dancevic. “We’ve accomplished it earlier than, we’re right here once more and I consider we will win this, so we’re going to go after it tomorrow and provides all of it we’ve received.
“The guys left their hearts and souls out on the courtroom at the moment, from the primary ball to the final, as a captain that’s all I might ask for. The boys within the doubles stepped it as much as take this victory.”
What is the format for the 2022 Davis Cup Finals?
The group stage of the 2022 Davis Cup by Rakuten Finals befell throughout 4 cities — Bologna, Glasgow, Hamburg and Valencia — from 13-18 September. Sixteen nations competed in 4 round-robin teams of 4 groups. The prime two groups in every group superior to the knock-out stage. The knock-out stage is going down in Malaga this week, with the ultimate on Sunday.
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