BUDAPEST, October 1, 2016

Canada’s Junior Davis Cup team is one victory away from claiming its second consecutive title following a 2-1 defeat over the United States in the semi-finals of the under-16 World Championships on Saturday. Defending Junior Davis Cup champions, the squad has advanced into the final in Budapest where it will take on Russia.

Against the US-Americans, Canada came back from a 0-1 deficit as Nicaise Muamba fell in the opening match 7-5, 6-1 to Sangeet Sridhar. Felix Auger-Aliassime, the only holdover from the 2015 team, then evened up the tie at one match apiece thanks to a straightforward 6-3, 6-1 triumph over Sebastian Korda in just over an hour.

In the deciding doubles duel, Auger-Aliassime – the junior world No. 2 and reigning Junior US Open champion – paired up with Chih Chi Huang. With a close and exciting 5-7, 6-2, 10-5 victory opposite Korda and Sridhar, Auger-Aliassime and Huang secured the win for their country.

Canada will now go for gold for two years in a row against Russia on Sunday morning on the outdoor clay courts of Budapest.

In 2015, Auger-Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov, and Benjamin Sigouin captured Canada’s first-ever Junior Davis Cup title. That same week, Canada’s under-16 girls won bronze at Junior Fed Cup. At this year’s event, the Canadian Junior Fed Cup team, featuring Bianca Andreescu, Isabelle Boulais, and Layne Sleeth, will be competing for fifth place against Czech Republic on Sunday.