Canada won its first Davis Cup title on Sunday, beating Australia behind victories from Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime in Malaga, Spain.
Montreal’s Auger-Aliassime beat Australia’s Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday to clinch Canada’s first Davis Cup championship in 109 years.
“The emotions are tough to describe,” said Auger-Aliassime. “We grew up together, dreaming about being on this stage, winning these types of matches, winning the Davis Cup. It’s really a dream come true. That’s what we play for. That’s what sport is for. It was a great moment for us and for the country.”
Shapovalov, from Richmond Hill, Ont., won Canada’s first singles match earlier in the day, 6-2, 6-4 over Thanasi Kokkinakis.
WATCH | Auger-Aliassime gains measure of revenge for 2019 Davis Cup final loss:
Felix Auger-Aliassime rolled through the clinching match in straight sets to get Canada its first-ever Davis Cup championship.
Shapovalov had dropped both his singles matches this week and needed treatment on his back during a three-set loss Saturday in the semifinals to Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego that lasted three hours 15 minutes. But the left-hander moved quickly around the court Sunday, setting up angles to put away winners while racing to a 4-0 lead in the first set.
“[I am] definitely happy to get a singles win for the team. You know, I felt close the last two matches. The games have been good, but just wasn’t able to get over the finish line,” said Shapovalov.
Auger-Aliassime finished off his superb second half of the season by completing a perfect week in Spain. He twice had kept the Canadians alive after Shapovalov dropped the opening singles match, and on Saturday he replaced his weary teammate to join Vasek Pospisil for the decisive doubles point.
This time, he made sure the doubles match wouldn’t even be necessary.
It was Canada’s second Davis Cup final appearance in four years.
Canada has automatically qualified for the 2023 event and will be joined in the group stage, starting next Sept. 11, by finalists Australia, wild cards Italy and Spain, and the 12 nations that will win their 2023 qualifier ties.
A Canadian squad featuring Shapovalov, Auger-Aliassime and Vasek Pospisil advanced to the 2019 final, where it lost 2-0 to Spain.
WATCH | Shapovalov gives Canada early lead Sunday in Davis Cup final:
Denis Shapovalov cruised to a straight-sets victory in the first match of the Cup final.
The trio, along with Alexis Galarneau, Gabriel Diallo and team captain Frank Dancevic had a week to remember in Malaga, ousting both Germany and Italy in tight 2-1 ties before sweeping Australia in the finals.
“We are extremely proud of the effort our team, staff, and fans have put into this historical Davis Cup run,” Tennis Canada president and CEO Michael Downey said in a news release. “After finishing in second place in 2019, despite it being our first finals berth, all we could think about was getting another shot at winning the prestigious title.
“Today, not only did we earn that second opportunity, but we delivered. Their energy and relentless work ethic have been nothing short of spectacular. We are honoured to have this team of world-class athletes representing our country.”