Félix Auger-Aliassime capped off a perfect week and a fabulous final quarter of 2022 by helping Canada win the Davis Cup for the first time in its history on Sunday in Málaga, Spain.
In the second singles duel of the day against Australia, Auger-Aliassime beat Alex De Minaur in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 in 1 hour 41 minutes.
This victory followed that of Denis Shapovalov in two sets also, 6-2, 6-4 against Thanasi Kokkinakis, in 1 hour 29 minutes. Also, it made unnecessary the presentation of a decisive doubles duel in which Auger-Aliassime and Vasek Pospisil were to participate, against Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson.
To qualify for this second Davis Cup final in Canadian history, captain Frank Dancevic’s team needed doubles victories in the quarterfinals against Germany on Thursday, and in the semifinals against Italy on Saturday.
These two doubles matches were made necessary by Auger-Aliassime’s victories in singles, first against Oscar Otte on Thursday, then against Lorenzo Musetti on Saturday.
In 2019, Canada lost in the grand final against Spain in a tournament in which Auger-Aliassime, Shapovalov and Pospisil had participated.
A tough Aussie
It was the second time in his career that Auger-Aliassime faced De Minaur. If he had signed a convincing victory of 6-3, 6-2, in 78 minutes, in the second round of the Cincinnati Masters last August, the Montrealer had to fight vigorously to get rid of the 23-year-old Australian , despite the final result in two sets.
Unlike several of his matches in October where he had proved untouchable on serve, Auger-Aliassime found himself in difficulty on a few occasions behind what has become his weapon of choice, from the first moments of his face. -to-face with De Minaur.
In the first set, he had to clear two break points in the opening game, and another two games later.
In the second set, he found himself in front of five more break points, two in the second game and three more in the sixth game. Again, he got out of the impasse.
This sixth game sums up well how Auger-Aliassime has become a tough player. Falling 0-40, he won the next five points, to protect his lead.
And even in the final game, Auger-Aliassime made up for a 0-30 loss before scoring the last four points of the game.
Convincing Shapovalov
After delivering two roller coaster performances, first against Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff on Thursday, then against Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego on Saturday – two games he lost in three sets – Shapovalov showed himself in full control of his game for most of his duel with Kokkinakis.
He scored five aces and committed as many double faults, but he also concluded the clash with 28 winners against 15 unforced errors. Shapovalov was efficient on returns, winning 27 of 58 points (47 percent efficiency) and converting four of seven break chances.
The 23-year-old Ontarian, ranked 18th in the world, took control of the first set by winning the first four games. He completed that first set in 32 minutes without facing a single break point.
Shapovalov took the lead in the second set thanks to a break in the third game. In the next game, Shapovalov would experience his first difficult moments on his serve.
During a game that required 22 points and lasted some 13 minutes, the Canadian still managed to consolidate the break, not without having to save three break points in the process.
Shapovalov added a second break in the seventh game, giving himself the opportunity to serve for the match with a 5-2 lead.
The Canadian, however, offered his worst game of the day on his serve, conceding the last three points to Kokkinakis, the last on a double fault, to keep the Australian in the match.
Kokkinakis extended the duel by winning his serve in the ninth game without giving up a single point. Shapovalov responded by earning the first three points on his serve to give himself that many match points.
He let slip the first one when his forehand volley flew over the baseline, but not the next. He converted it with a serve that the 26-year-old Australian hit with the end of the racquet.