Canada has had many males who’ve reached the highest ranges of tennis over the previous decade. Milos Raonic made it to No. 3 in 2016, Denis Shapovalov bought to No. 10 in 2021 and Félix Auger-Aliassime hit a career-best No. 6 this month. Vasek Pospisil was No. 25 in singles in 2014 after which No. 4 in doubles in 2015.
After Canada’s historic victory over Australia within the Davis Cup closing in Malaga on Sunday, crew chief Félix Auger-Aliassime was requested if the success represented the apogee of the latest evolution of Canadian tennis. “It’s type of the apogee, type of a type of future,” he replied. “Tennis Canada and the (Quebec) federation have invested a number of vitality, a number of time and plenty of cash in order that in the future we could possibly be a rustic that performs good tennis and has a number of good gamers and will ultimately win the Davis Cup. At this time is type of the ultimate day within the plans of all of us (the crew) right here and all people at dwelling who hoped that in the future we might win a trophy like this. So I’m pleased with everybody at dwelling, everybody who has helped us right here for a few years to develop and grow to be higher gamers. So to additionally win this for them could be very particular.”
These remarks by the articulate Auger-Aliassime have been made throughout a rowdy victorious media convention amid teammates who appeared as if they’d coiffed a brew – or two. Regardless of the case, everybody was in a high-spirited temper, together with the 2 alternate gamers – Alexis Galarneau and Gabriel Diallo. Galarneau, 23 from Laval, Que., was requested about he and Diallo being the ‘good luck charms’ cheerleading from the Canadian courtside seats. Laughing laborious, he may barely get any phrases out together with his hoarse voice. A barely extra loquacious Diallo, 21 from Montreal, stated, “we’ve no extra voice, we left all of it on the bench. Clearly, I’m tremendous grateful to be a part of this crew. We’re so pleased with Vasek and Denis and Félix for leaving their hearts on the court docket. The way in which they competed was completely inspirational.”
When ebullient captain Frank Dancevic was requested what the celebration could be like, he responded, “we haven’t considered that but however I can guarantee you it’s going to be a very huge one – and WE’RE DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO SLEEP UNTIL THE FLIGHT AT 6 A.M. It’ll be a crew effort. We’re going tremendous laborious. You realize these huge champagne bottles on court docket? – we’re planning to get greater ones tonight.”
Dancevic and his crew need to rejoice after taking part in three ties in 4 days – a 2-1 victory over Germany and 2-1 versus Italy earlier than Sunday’s 2-0 coup de grace in opposition to Australia.
In a extra critical vein, the captain summed up, “we confronted numerous obstacles this week – we have been down in lots of matches. However we had our spirits excessive and we saved combating till the top. We’re right here now with the trophy. So it’s an unimaginable feeling.”
It’s unattainable to report on the Canadian victory, turning into the 16th nation to win the championship within the Davis Cup’s 123-year historical past, with out acknowledging Auger-Aliassime’s brilliance. Once more on Sunday in his tie-clinching 6-3, 6-4 victory over Alex de Minaur, he was steely-nerved and clutch. The 23-year-old Aussie is about as tenacious and no-quit a competitor as might be discovered on tour. He and his mates had a time without work on Saturday whereas Auger-Aliassime was busy retaining Canada’s hopes alive successful in singles and doubles in opposition to Italy. Auger-Aliassime certainly needed to be taking part in on end-of-season fumes in opposition to an opponent who’s as fast across the court docket as anybody – a tough man to place away each in a rally and in a match.
It will have been harmful to get behind the gritty de Minaur, and must play catch-up. However Auger-Aliassime managed to keep away from that, saving two break factors within the very first sport after which one other one within the third. He efficiently defended all eight break factors he confronted on the day, with probably the most memorable being three from love-40 when he led 3-2 within the second set. Level-by-point they have been (1) hitting full-out in a tremendous, ball-crushing rally with de Minaur chasing aspect to aspect earlier than Auger-Aliassime lastly gained it when the Aussie missed a forehand into the web. The subsequent two factors have been much less dramatic, (2) a service winner and (3) a serve and forehand winner.
Auger-Aliassime didn’t have his finest day serving however his compete stage was sufficient to get him by. “I felt good,” he stated. “You’re taking part in for the nation, you’re taking part in for the crew. I felt good bodily – it’s not like I’m injured or something. When it comes to being drained, I might be drained tomorrow however not as we speak. I used to be prepared for something. It’s important to be able to exit and combat – take the lead and maintain it.”
Shapovalov was equally spectacular within the day’s opening match – a one-sided 6-2, 6-4 victory over Thanasi Kokkinakis. He grabbed a 4-0 lead proper from the beginning and wrapped up the opening set in 32 minutes. Within the second set, he broke to 2-1 and issues actually solely bought a trifle dicey after he led by two breaks at 5-2. Kokkinakis broke serve to 5-3 and held to 5-4. However then Shapovalov put an enormous exclamation mark on what was a powerful, measured efficiency – serving out to like and ending with a serve/forehand-winner combo. He notably reined in a few of his extra bold impulses however nonetheless hit 23 winners to 5 for the 26-year-old Aussie.
Wanting again general on the week, Shapovalov talked about his 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 win with Pospisil over Germans Tim Puetz and Kevin Krawietz on Thursday as a spotlight. “Clearly the doubles with Vasek within the quarter-finals in opposition to Germany was large,” he stated. “In opposition to an undefeated (Davis Cup) crew, getting back from a set down, we simply fully lit it up. It was loopy, loopy. We didn’t miss a ball for some time there. It was like an out-of-body expertise. It was loopy.”
Shapovalov additionally revealed that he will probably be sustaining his coach relationship with Peter Polansky in 2023.
From the Australian aspect of the ledger after Sunday’s closing, a downcast Kokkinakis stated he was brief on match play. He even urged Jordan Thompson, who performed effectively with Max Purcell in a key doubles victory over the Croats on Friday, might need been a greater possibility.
And when captain Lleyton Hewitt and de Minaur have been questioned about why mercurial, No. 22-ranked Nick Kyrgios was not taking part in for Australia, they sang from the identical songbook. “You’ll must ask him,” Hewitt stated. “I couldn’t attempt any more durable.” Added de Minaur, “I’ve tried as effectively. It simply wasn’t meant to be.”
There was numerous chatter about whether or not Canada deserved to even be within the Davis Cup Finals after dropping within the Qualifiers first spherical – and seemingly being eradicated – final February within the Netherlands.
Clearly, Canada caught a break when Russia was banned and it bought a spot (based mostly on its No. 6 rating) within the Davis Cup Finals group stage final September. However neither Auger-Aliassime nor Shapovalov performed in that tie in opposition to the Dutch and so it was hardly a sign that Canada wasn’t a worthy crew. Its second likelihood was very very like a fortunate loser on the common ATP Tour – and fortunate losers have regularly been recognized to do effectively. Canada merely took benefit of its alternative.
Host nations typically get wild playing cards in Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup – an distinctive circumstance. Russia invading Ukraine and being expelled from Davis Cup was additionally an distinctive circumstance that resulted in Canada’s second likelihood – an invite that it couldn’t be anticipated to say no.
And presently Canada in all probability solely ranks behind Spain (Alcaraz and Nadal) and the banned Russians (Medvedev and Rublev) by way of a potent line-up with high quality gamers.
From one other angle, Canada can in all probability thank Jack Draper for its having the ability to win the Davis Cup. Had the 20-year-old Brit not overwhelmed Auger-Aliassime within the second spherical of the US Open, the 22-year-old from Montreal might need made an excellent run in New York and never modified his thoughts and performed the Davis Cup Finals group stage in September – enabling Canada to qualify for this previous week’s Finals in Malaga.
With the victory, Canada and runner-up Australia, will now get straight into the Davis Cup Finals group stage subsequent September – and won’t must play within the home-and-away Qualifier ties the primary week of February after the 2023 Australian Open.
Auger-Aliassime stated he has not finalized his plans for the weeks main into January’s Aussie Open. However one factor is for sure – when he arrives Down Beneath he could have a brand new aura about him after main his nation to its Davis Cup triumph.
It’s truthful to say that the 15-year-old boy who gained the junior Davis Cup, alongside Shapovalov and Benjamin Sigouin, in Madrid in 2015, now has a a lot totally different stature. His success this fall – three tour titles, that No. 6 world rating and the Davis Cup – are proof of his maturation as a person, and as an expert athlete.
NOTE: Sadly, climate knocked out satellite tv for pc reception of the feed of the Auger-Aliassime – de Minaur match for Canadian tv on Sunday – that means the house folks missed the ultimate 3 ½ video games of the historic Davis Cup victory.
Characteristic Picture: Martin Sidorjak
