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Denis Shapovalov once again did his job to provide Group Canada the lead on the 2024 Davis Cup Finals group stage in Manchester, defeating Eero Vasa in straight units on Thursday to attain the opening level of their second round-robin tie towards Finland.
Fast begins in each units put the wind on the Canadian’s again, though Vasa didn’t go away quietly. Shapovalov needed to maintain his by no means to maintain the highly effective Finn at bay and provides Canada the 1-0 lead with a 7-6(2), 6-2, win.
Aside from one sport early within the first set, it was an excellent serving efficiency from Shapovalov, who solely misplaced 10 factors on serve in the entire match, simply two within the second set. The Canadian gained 84 per cent of his first serve factors and solely confronted two break factors within the match. He additionally had 16 winners to his opponent’s seven, whereas Vasa threw in 40 unforced errors.
Shapovalov got here charging out of the gate, profitable 12 of the primary 13 factors together with all eight on his serve of which 5 have been unreturned serves. Vasa was struggling to search out his vary early and a double fault adopted by a forehand effectively lengthy gave away an early break.
Learn additionally: Shapovalov, Auger-Aliassime Power Canada Past Argentina at Davis Cup
As soon as the Finn settled in, he was capable of flip the momentum round shortly. He used his large first serve to start out holding and Shapovalov performed a sloppy sport at 3-1, double-faulting to provide the break again. The 2 remained even for the remainder of the set, though Vasa did have to avoid wasting a set level on his serve at 4-5, delivering an ace.
Within the tiebreak, Shapovalov once more raced out to a 3-0 lead, courtesy of consecutive errors by Vasa on his personal serve, and this time he didn’t let his early benefit slip away. He led the breaker wire to wire and took the opening set.
Similar to the primary, Shapovalov got here out flying to start out the second set whereas Vasa appeared sluggish. The Canadian broke to like within the opening sport, courtesy of a Vasa double fault, a then backed it up with a maintain to like for a 2-0 lead.
Learn additionally: Canadian Doubles Steal the Show in Toronto
There was no letdown within the second set. Shapovalov was in full circulation, forcing Vasa to run laps behind the baseline along with his pinpoint groundstrokes. The serve was untouchable because the Canadian gained his first 12 factors in a row, three love holds, and added a second break for good measure on his option to victory.
Félix Auger-Aliassime now has an opportunity to clinch the tie and take a stranglehold on a spot in November’s Davis Cup Remaining 8 within the second singles match towards Otto Virtanen. Shapovalov and Auger-Aliassime are additionally scheduled to play the doubles.
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