Auger-Aliassime Superb In Lifting Canada To Davis Cup Final

Felix Auger-Aliassime Canada Davis Cup
Felix Auger-Aliassime (photo: Diego Souto/Quality Sport Images/Kosmos Tennis)

MÁLAGA/WASHINGTON, November 26, 2022 (by Michael Dickens)

With one remaining spot in the Davis Cup by Rakuten Finals title tie against Australia, Canada and Italy battled in their third meeting with the Canadians bidding to maintain their unbeaten record. However, Italy, which was appearing in just its second Davis Cup semifinal tie this century, was bound to put up a good fight – and it did before another raucous crowd in Málaga, Spain, which came out in support of both teams Saturday afternoon into evening.

When the last ball was played, after seven energetic and passionate sets, it was Canada raising their arms in celebration. The Canadians defeated Italy 2-1 to advance to Sunday’s Davis Cup final against Australia.

Canada, which has never lifted the Davis Cup trophy, was a semifinalist as recent as 2019 before losing 2-0 to host Spain in the final. They would be riding the good fortunes of Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime in singles and Vasek Pospisil in doubles. The Canadians eliminated Germany, coming from a rubber down after Shapovalov lost the opener to pull out a 2-1 victory.

Meanwhile, Italy, whose lineup had been depleted by injuries to Matteo Berrettini and Jannik Sinner, nonetheless, scored a major upset by taking down the United States 2-1 as Lorenzo Sonego came through at No. 2 singles and the Italians prevailed in the doubles rubber in back of Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini. Although Italy had previously lost three of its last four semifinal ties, a victory over Canada would put Italy within a tie victory from winning its first Davis Cup title since 1976.

By the end, it wasn’t meant to be for the Italians. Maybe, it’s the maple syrup that is the difference for Team Canada.

Sonego put Italy on the scoreboard first with a 7-6 (4), 6-7 (5), 6-4 win over Shapovalov that stretched to three-and-a-quarter hours. He seemed both happy and relieved to get through his rubber with a victory that began with the Canadian No. 2 winning the first nine points of the match. After back-to-back tie-breaks that leveled matters and sent the first rubber to a decider, Sonego was a decided underdog with a record of 4-15, the worst of any player in the Top 50. However, he never doubted himself – and his teammates and the Italian fans had his back from start to finish.

Although Shapovalov struck 40 winners to 33 for Sonego, he was hampered by 32 unforced errors and committed nine double faults.

“It’s an unbelievable moment for me,” Sonego said during his post-match interview on court at Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena, where the crowd reached 9,000. “Shapo fights non-stop, I had to be focused every point and I needed the help of all my team. This is just a great moment for Italy.”

Then, as he did against Germany, Auger-Aliassime delivered a must-win point to level the tie at 1-all and send it to a doubles rubber decider. He beat Lorenzo Musetti, 6-3, 6-4, in an hour and 25 minutes behind a solid first serve, in which he dropped just three points while winning 91 percent (30 of 33) of his first-serve points. He added 18 winners, including a service winner on match point.

Auger-Aliassime was quick to exit the court after writing “Let’s Do This” on the camera lens, then saying in his on-court interview that “I’m ready to play” when he was asked if he might take Shapovalov’s place in the Canadian doubles lineup.

Soon, not only was Auger-Aliassime inserted into Canada’s lineup, there was a last-minute shakeup for Italy, too. That’s because Berrettini substituted for an injured Bolelli in the fourth consecutive tie of the Final Eight to be decided by doubles.

As it happened, Auger-Aliassime and Pospisil were the steadier team in the clutch. They broke their opponents for the third time in seven tries, then held on Auger-Aliassime’s final service game – winning on match point No. 1 after Berrettini hit a fourth-shot forehand return wide left – to pull out a 7-6 (2), 7-5 victory in two hours and one minute.

The celebration was on for the Canadians as Auger-Aliassime and Pospisil, who a week ago was winning the final of an ATP Challenger Tour event in Drummondville, Canada, shared a passionate chest bump and both were hugged by their team captain Frank Dancevic.

Afterward, during their on-court interview, Pospisil spoke of how Davis Cup week is always a wild and emotional week. “It’s the most fun as a player to play for your country and for your teammates. So far, it’s been a great week but we have more to do,” he said.

Auger-Aliassime was asked about what his mindset coming into the doubles, with the tie riding on the outcome. He said: “That’s the good thing about having many good players on the team. Denis and Vasek played really well [Thursday]. To come back and win the way they played was amazing.

“Today, Denis had a long match and we knew coming in this week we could make some changes depending. how the singles went. I just feel the whole team connected around this idea. There was no ego in the wrong places. Everybody has a clear idea of the main goal, which is lifting the cup tomorrow.”

Later, in his team’s press conference, the 22-year-old Montreal native who won four ATP Tour titles, said: “This has been a special journey in a special year. I think this is the most complete team we have had in the history of Canadian tennis an we deserve to be in this position.”

By the numbers

Canada is through to its second Davis Cup final. The first resulted in a title loss to Spain in 2019.

“Quotable …”

“Making the final is always an amazing feeling and I really believe in this team – everybody. I believe we can win this. We’re going to go after it and give it all we’ve got tomorrow. The guys left their hearts and souls out on the court today, from the first ball to the last. As a captain, that’s all I can ask for. I’m really proud of everybody. It’s a team effort.”

– Frank Dancevic, Canada team captain, in an on-court interview following his team’s 2-1 semifinal victory over Italy.

Canada 2, Italy 1

Semifinal – At Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena, Malaga, Spain

• Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) def. Denis Shapovalov (CAN), 7-6 (4), 6-7 (5), 6-4.

• Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) def. Lorenzo Musetti (ITA), 6-3, 6-4.

• Felix Auger-Aliassime and Vasek Pospisil (CAN) def. Matteo Berrettini and Fabio Fognini (ITA), 7-6 (2), 7-5.

 

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