Felix Auger-Aliassime impressively fought his way back from 0-40 in the sixth game to clinch the title for Canada. (AP pic)
NEW YORK: Canada won their first Davis Cup title yesterday after Felix Auger-Aliassime beat Australia’s Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-4 in the second match of the finals to give them an unassailable 2-0 lead in Malaga, Spain.
The world No 6 had to fend off three break points early in the first set but found his rhythm in the eighth game, where he broke de Minaur with a mighty overhead smash, before sealing the final game with an ace.
Auger-Aliassime retained his poise in the second set as he defended two break points in the second game and he pumped his fist when he broke the Australian with a beautiful forehand winner in the third.
He impressively fought his way back from 0-40 to hold his serve in the sixth game and clinched it for the 2019 runners-up with a forehand winner, before flopping down on the ground as his teammates tackled him.
Shapovalov fell short in a physically punishing three-setter against Lorenzo Sonego in the semifinal, but the 18th-ranked left-hander wasted little time establishing a 4-0 lead earlier yesterday in the opening set before Kokkinakis got on the board.
Having wrapped up the set comfortably to put Canada on the front foot, Shapovalov broke in the third game of the second set and did not look back as he closed out the victory in 89 minutes.
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