Canada has won the Tennis Davis Cup for the first time. In Sunday’s final in Málaga, the North Americans completed their historic success over Australia following the singles. Denis Shapovalov first defeated the Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis 6:2,6:4. Then world number six Felix Auger-Aliassime secured the second point for the Canadians with a 6:3,6:4 over Alex de Minaur.
In their first final in 2019, the Canadians lost 2-0 to Spain in the final. They are now the 16th nation to win the “World’s Ugliest Salad Bowl”. The Australians, on the other hand, suffered their 20th defeat in their 48th Davis Cup final. They last triumphed in 2003.
Above all, Auger-Aliassime fully lived up to its status. After the 22-year-old hadn’t dropped a set in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, he didn’t give Alex de Minaur (ATP 24), who had also won the first two games, a chance in the final. Auger-Aliassime fended off all eight of De Minaur’s break balls and converted the first match point following 1:42 hours.
In the first individual, Shapovalov (ATP 18) also lived up to his role as favorite once morest Kokkinakis (ATP 95). (apa/sda)
