Tennis News: Canada won the Davis Cup for the first time in its history after Felix Auger Aliassime capped off a perfect week in the final.
Canadian tennis player Auger Aliassime won the seventh and eighth sets of the 2022 Davis Cup to add to the set won by compatriot Denis Shapovalov in the first singles match to give Canada a 2-0 lead over Australia.
The final standings may be 6-3, 6-4 against Australian international Alex De Minaur, but the 2022 Rotterdam Open champion had to fight hard, including saving eight break point chances for achieve a decisive victory for Canada.
But the Basel 2022 champion’s serve can be relied on when he needs it most and his baseline game is rock solid.
“This emotion is difficult to describe”, exclaims Auger Aliassime. “Denis and I grew up together, dreaming of a stage like this, dreaming of winning the Davis Cup. It’s a great moment for me and for our country.
De Minaur showed heroism as he crushed Croatian international Marin Cilic in straight sets to take the game into the deciding doubles match, but this time he was unable to overcome the skillful play of Auger Aliassime.
Earlier, Shapovalov fired from the first ball against Australian tennis player Thanasi Kokkinakis to take a 4-0 lead before emerging victorious in a 6-2, 6-4 win.
The world number 18 suffered a minor shock when broken at 5-2 in the second set, but calmed down to seal the match at the second chance.
“Ever since we were juniors, watching Vasek Pospisil, Milos Raonic and Daniel Nestor play in the Davis Cup, we wanted to do the same thing, and maybe even win it one day,” Shapovalov said.
“Losing in 2019 was pretty heavy, our feelings were empty, and this time we really wanted it.”
For Pospisil and his compatriot who is the older of the two tennis players, it was an emotion.
“We’ve been dreaming about it for several seasons,” Pospisil said. “Being here as a world champion, I’m speechless. They’re not kids anymore. You can’t win this tournament without great team chemistry, moving forward as a unit, and they represent that.
Article tags: Tennis, Davis Cup, Felix Auger Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov, Vasek Pospisil
“Social media fanatic. Problem solver. Bacon ninja. Communicator. Alcohol evangelist.”
