By Alberto Amalfi | Thursday, November 24, 2022
Canada performed catch-up to edge Germany—and proceed its quest to gather a maiden Davis Cup.
Veteran Vasek Pospisil and Denis Shapovalov rallied previous Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 to clinch Canada’s 2-1 victory over Germany in an exhilarating doubles duel in Malaga, Spain.
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The victory vaults Canada into its fourth Davis Cup semifinal the place it should face Italy.
Earlier, Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini defeated Tommy Paul and Jack Sock 6-4, 6-4 to seal Italy’s 2-1 victory over the US.
Canada, which was runner-up to host Spain within the 2019 Davis Cup Last staged in Madrid, is intent on capturing its first Davis Cup in historical past.
“It feels superb,” Pospisil stated. “Clearly we now have had some good style of success in Davis Cup in earlier years and made the ultimate in 2019. So we’re clearly hungry to sort of expertise that once more and go, , one additional. Clearly that is the factor we might all like to do at some point of our careers.
“We’re positively in search of that title this week, it is what we wish, however clearly each match is so robust.”
Felix Auger-Aliassime fired 15 aces and gained 31 of 35 first-serve factors defeating Oscar Otte 7-6(1), 6-4 to stage Canada with Germany after two matches and set the stage for the decisive doubles.
“Felix got here out, performed superb to maintain us alive, and it is by no means straightforward getting back from a match that you simply simply misplaced as effectively to, , come again with and wish to end out the tie with a win,” Canadian captain Frank Dancevic stated. “Vasek, along with his expertise, a veteran on the staff, I feel he is an enormous key to our success, as effectively. These guys, they’ve nice vitality. After they discover the vitality within the matches, I really feel so assured they will beat any staff on the earth.
“It was superb to observe. They confirmed a lot coronary heart going within the match, and once more, at first of the match, it was robust to search out the rhythm. However as soon as they discovered the rhythm and as soon as they acquired within the groove, they performed lights out. They performed superb. Took management of the match.”
Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff opened at present’s play stopping Shapovalov 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(2) to stake Germany to a 1-0 lead.
Shapovalov shook off that stinging defeat to associate Pospisil to the clinching victory.
“Struff is an opponent that I’ve struggled with up to now. He performs huge for large matches,” Shapovalov stated. “Yeah, I used to be struggling a bit bit with the timing, with my serve within the match. It is first match in a pair weeks for me, as effectively.
“I feel normally, I imply, it was an excellent struggle for me. I feel the extent was fairly excessive a variety of moments within the match, and, yeah, it positively sucks to not get that win for the staff. You realize, it is robust.
“However fortunately we now have Felix, as effectively, who’s, , who introduced us again alive and gave us an opportunity to play for the doubles. Large credit to Felix.”
Photograph credit score: Getty
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