It was not for lack of trying that Denis Shapovalov lost his second singles match of the tournament. Lorenzo Sonego got up at the right time and got the better of the Canadian in a marathon match of 7-6, 6-7 and 6-4. The survival of Canada therefore rests on the shoulders of Félix Auger-Aliassime.
For nearly 3:15, Shapovalov and Sonego fought a hot battle in the Davis Cup semifinals.
If the Canadian went like a lion, the Italian never let it go. Both players excelled on serve, return and net. A hard-fought match, as is often the case in the Davis Cup.
If Sonego, 45e world racket, took the first set, Shapo came from behind to serve the Italian his own medicine. Each tiebreaker was played on a thread and few details will have made the difference.
It was the third set that was fatal for Shapovalov, as his serve dropped him for the first time in the game, in the most important game. Fighting for survival at 4-5, he double faulted to hand the game to his opponent.
This is Shapovalov’s second loss in the tournament after his early loss to Jan-Lennard Struff.
All of Canada’s hopes rest on Félix Auger-Aliassime. Due to the absence of Matteo Berrettini, injured, it is Lorenzo Musetti who will have the chance to send his team to the Davis Cup final against the Australians.
Musetti is a player on the rise who can compete with the sixth racquet in the world. In four clashes, each player has won twice.