(Valencia) Canada overcame Spain 2-1 in the group stage of the Davis Cup Finals in Valencia on Friday and climbed to the top of the Group B standings with one game to play .
Updated yesterday at 8:35 p.m.
Canada (2-0) won this important victory thanks to the tandem of Félix Auger-Aliassime and Vasek Pospisil, who defeated the duo formed by Marcel Granollers and Pedro Martínez in three sets of 4-6, 6-4 , 7-5 in the doubles duel.
In this decisive clash, not only did Canada have to erase a loss of one set to zero, but they found themselves facing a 3-5 deficit in the third set.
PHOTO PABLO MORANO, REUTERS
Vasek Pospisil and Felix Auger-Aliassime
Auger-Aliassime, who was broken in the fifth game of the set, won her serve in the ninth. Then his efforts combined with those of Pospisil allowed Canada to recover the break in the 10e Game.
Pospisil then won his serve to give Canada a 6-5 lead and scored the decisive point when he returned a serve from Granollers directly to Martínez’s body, positioned close to the net. Martínez’s volley flew over the baseline, sparking celebration on the Canada bench.
Captain Frank Dancevic’s squad have yet to secure their place in the finals, scheduled for the end of November. However, with its victories against Spain and South Korea, the Canadian delegation has control of its destiny.
Canada will complete the group stage this Saturday against Serbia (1-1), while Spain (1-1) will face South Korea (0-2) on Sunday. The countries occupying the first two places in the ranking will qualify for the final bracket.
Imperial Auger-Aliassime
Canada initially lost the first singles match of the day when Roberto Bautista Agut beat Pospisil 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
This victory for Bautista Agut therefore forced Auger-Aliassime to win his singles match against none other than Carlos Alcaraz, winner of the United States Open last Sunday, and new world number one.
However, Auger-Aliassime ruined Alcaraz’s return to his native country by winning in three sets of 6-7 (3), 6-4 and 6-2.
PHOTO PABLO MORANO, REUTERS
Carlos Alcaraz
The indoor room in Valencia was packed with Spaniards eager to see their new young darling. Alcaraz, 19, was busy signing autographs and posing for photos after practice.
The Spanish supporters, however, saw Auger-Aliassime turn things around after conceding the first set, putting blow after blow exactly where he wanted them.
Felix is an animal. Physically and mentally, Félix is one of the best in the world.
Carlos Alcaraz
“I didn’t show up in very good physical condition,” added Alcaraz. “It was a very difficult day, but I have to say congratulations to him because he played an incredible match. »
The Montrealer dominated on his serve thanks to 16 aces and he broke his service late in the second set, then two more breaks in the third set.
“He is the world number one and all the credit goes to him, but today I think I was a little better in the third set,” analyzed Auger-Aliassime.
In that third set, Alcaraz had four break chances as they trailed 1-2, but Auger-Aliassime held on each time.
“It’s a big effort to win in New York and to come here, on a different surface, to cross the Atlantic and show up with this level and this fighting spirit,” added Auger-Aliassime. It’s all to his credit. […] I was not going to let the team down. I was going to give everything from the first to the last point. I’m really happy that the result is on my side. It’s a big relief to get this victory and it’s an important victory for me personally too. »
In other group stage matches elsewhere in Europe, the Netherlands qualified for the finals after beating Great Britain 2-1, in Group D. This result means the United States will also participate in the final phase.
This will also be the case for Germany and Australia, in Group C, after Germany’s 2-1 victory against Belgium. In a Group A game in Bologna, Italy beat Argentina 2-1.
With Joseph Wilson, Associated Press