Canada defeated Australia to capture their first Davis Cup title

On Sunday, Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime defeated Australia’s Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-4 to give Canada an unassailable 2-0 lead in Malaga, Spain.
The world number six defeated Alex De Minaur 6-3, 6-4 to give Canada the trophy over Australia, who had previously won it 28 times.
Denis Shapovalov had earlier given Canada, defeated finalists in 2019 by Spain, the first point with a 6-2, 6-4 victory against Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Canada had come a long way since being ousted in qualification by the Netherlands in March before being given a wild card into the finals following Russia and Belarus’ expulsion due to the invasion of Ukraine.
In September, Canada finished second in Group B behind Spain before defeating Germany in the quarter-finals (2-1) and Italy in the semi-finals (2-1) earlier this week.
The world number six displayed his remarkable skill once more, producing 16 winners to his opponent’s five, and basking in the applause of his countrymen as he smashed a deadly forehand to capture the championship.
“The emotions are difficult to put into words. We’ve all dreamed of this moment, all of us “In a televised interview, Auger-Aliassime stated. “It truly is a dream come true.”
He had to save three break opportunities in the opening set, but he regained his stride in the eighth game, when he broke De Minaur with a massive overhead smash before finishing the match with an ace.
In the second set, Auger-Aliassime repelled two break points in the second game and raised his hands when he broke the Australian with a brilliant forehand winner in the third.
He rallied from 0-40 to hold serve in the sixth game and flopped to the ground as his teammates surrounded him after clinching the trophy for the 2019 runners-up.
“We all improved as players individually, we became better and better over the years,” said Auger-Aliassime, who kept Canadian hopes alive the day before by defeating Italian Lorenzo Musetti before teaming up with Vasek Pospisil in a straight-sets doubles triumph over Matteo Berrettini and Fabio Fognini. We’re more prepared for these kind of situations, but they’re never simple to overcome.
Earlier, Denis Shapovalov of Canada, who fell short in a physically demanding three-setter against Lorenzo Sonego in the semi-final, jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first set before Thanasi Kokkinakis broke.
After easily winning the first set to put Canada on the front foot, Shapovalov broke in the third game of the second set and never looked back, winning in 89 minutes.