Might 2022 be the 12 months that Canada goes all the way in which 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 group occasion after it secured a semi-final comeback victory in opposition to Italy on Saturday in Malaga.
Auger-Aliassime was the important thing to the Canadian’s 2-1 victory within the tie. Though Lorenzo Sonego moved Italy forward with an epic 7-6(4), 6-7(5), 6-4 triumph in opposition to 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 in opposition to 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 in opposition to Australia.
“That’s the advantage of having many good gamers on the group,” 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 may make some adjustments relying on how singles went.
“I really feel like the entire group linked round this concept and there was no ego within the flawed place. All people simply has the clear concept 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 had been overwhelmed by Roberto Bautista Agut and Rafael Nadal, respectively, to fall agonisingly wanting profitable 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 group,” mentioned captain Dancevic. “We’ve performed it earlier than, we’re right here once more and I consider we are able to win this, so we’re going to go after it tomorrow and provides all of it we’ve bought.
“The fellows left their hearts and souls out on the court docket right this moment, from the primary ball to the final, as a captain that’s all I may ask for. The boys within the doubles stepped it as much as take this victory.”
What’s 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 highest 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.
