Auger-Aliassime, Shapovalov Dominate as Canada Sweeps Finland at Davis Cup

One other day of robust performances by Denis Shapovalov and Félix Auger-Aliassime gave Staff Canada their second victory of the 2024 Davis Cup Finals group stage in Manchester as they swept Finland 3-0. 

Shapovalov completed robust as he opened the day with a win over Eero Vasa, establishing Auger-Aliassime to clinch the tie with a victory in opposition to Otto Virtanen, avenging Canada’s loss to the Finns within the 2023 Davis Cup quarter-finals. For good measure, the 2 Canadians stars teamed as much as full the sweep with a straight-set doubles win.

Whereas Canada has not but clinched a spot within the Davis Cup Ultimate 8 in Malaga, they might achieve this with out hitting one other ball relying on the outcomes over the following two days earlier than Canada performs Nice Britain on Sunday. 

Shapovalov as soon as once more did his job to present Staff Canada the lead on the 2024 Davis Cup Finals group stage in Manchester, defeating Eero Vasa in straight units on Thursday to attain the opening level of their second round-robin tie in opposition to Finland. 

Fast begins in each units put the wind on the Canadian’s again, though Vasa didn’t go away quietly. Shapovalov needed to maintain his by no means to maintain the highly effective Finn at bay and provides Canada the 1-0 lead with a 7-6(2), 6-2, win. 

Other than one recreation early within the first set, it was an excellent serving efficiency from Shapovalov, who solely misplaced 10 factors on serve in the entire match, simply two within the second set. The Canadian received 84 per cent of his first serve factors and solely confronted two break factors within the match. He additionally had 16 winners to his opponent’s seven, whereas Vasa threw in 40 unforced errors.  

Shapovalov got here charging out of the gate, profitable 12 of the primary 13 factors together with all eight on his serve of which 5 had been unreturned serves. Vasa was struggling to seek out his vary early and a double fault adopted by a forehand effectively lengthy gave away an early break. 

Learn additionally: Shapovalov, Auger-Aliassime Energy Canada Previous Argentina at Davis Cup

As soon as the Finn settled in, he was capable of flip the momentum round rapidly. He used his large first serve to start out holding and Shapovalov performed a sloppy recreation at 3-1, double-faulting to present the break again. The 2 remained even for the remainder of the set, though Vasa did have to save lots of a set level on his serve at 4-5, delivering an ace. 

Within the tiebreak, Shapovalov once more raced out to a 3-0 lead, courtesy of consecutive errors by Vasa on his personal serve, and this time he didn’t let his early benefit slip away. He led the breaker wire to wire and took the opening set. 

Identical to the primary, Shapovalov got here out flying to start out the second set whereas Vasa seemed sluggish. The Canadian broke to like within the opening recreation, courtesy of a Vasa double fault, a then backed it up with a maintain to like for a 2-0 lead.  

Learn additionally: Canadian Doubles Steal the Present in Toronto

There was no letdown within the second set. Shapovalov was in full circulation, forcing Vasa to run laps behind the baseline along with his pinpoint groundstrokes. The serve was untouchable because the Canadian received his first 12 factors in a row, three love holds, and added a second break for good measure on his strategy to victory.  

Clutch Play from FAA 

For the second tie in a row, Félix Auger-Aliassime got here out for the second singles match with an opportunity to seal the win for Staff Canada and as soon as once more made no mistake, beating Otto Virtanen in straight units to clinch the tie. 

Auger-Aliassime was capable of deal with the Finn daring hitting and seized his alternatives after they arose, making his transfer halfway by way of each units for a 6-2, 6-3 win. 

Like his countryman, the Canadian delivered a robust service efficiency, profitable 86 per cent of his first serve factors and by no means dropping serve, saving all three break factors he confronted. Virtanen’s large hitting, which was so lethal within the 2023 quarter-final between the 2 nations, was not as efficient on Thursday as he dedicated 33 unforced errors. 

Learn additionally: Auger-Aliassime, Shapovalov Again with a Bang at Davis Cup

In contrast to the earlier tie, the place Auger-Aliassime virtually mirrored Shapovalov’s efficiency on the scoreboard, the Canadian picked up his recreation because the set went alongside. His first take a look at a break got here at 3-2 when Virtanen netted a serve-and-volley try and on the following break level, Auger-Aliassime dominated the rally, finally ending with a forehand winner to grab the initiative. 

After battling to consolidate, saving a break level with some big-hitting, the Canadian put the strain on as Virtanen served to remain within the set at 5-2. The Finn cracked, hitting back-to-back double faults at hand the set to Canada. 

Virtanen had an opportunity to alter the momentum within the opening recreation of the second set when Auger-Aliassime missed a backhand to present him a pair of break factors. However the Canadian discovered the big-hitting he wanted to bash his approach out of the jam. 

Learn additionally: Draper Leads Canada’s Opposition in Davis Cup Group Stage – Meet Nice Britain, Argentina, and Finland

That maintain allowed the Montrealer to get again on the entrance foot. After lacking a break level within the fourth recreation, he made his transfer on the similar time he did within the opening set. Because the set went alongside, Virtanen’s recreation was changing into extra erratic and at 3-2, a slew of errors gave Auger-Aliassime a take a look at the break. A double fault from the Finn gifted the initiative to the Canadian No. 1. 

That lone break was all Auger-Aliassime wanted to lock up the win and the tie. 

Félix and Denis roll in doubles

Félix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov promptly returned to the court docket for doubles, capping a clear sweep of Finland with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Harri Heliovarra and Otto Virtanen at AO Enviornment.

Whereas each Canadians had been pulling double responsibility after notching their singles wins, they seemed lots refreshed and energized, rolling to the win in 73 minutes.

The duo received 79% of their first serve factors and broke serve 4 instances within the decisive straight units victory.

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Shapovalov and Auger-Aliassime had been eager to impose and dictate play early, and within the fourth recreation of the opening set, the duo transformed on their second break level likelihood to take an early 3-1 lead.

It’s one they might not relinquish; they scored a second break on the tail finish of the set to shut the opener 6-2 in simply 32 minutes.

The Finnish staff managed to lift their stage within the second set, as the 2 doubles squads traded holds by way of six consecutive video games.

Heliovarra and Virtanen lastly discovered a bout of momentum, changing a second break level alternative within the seventh recreation for a 4-3 lead. It was nonetheless met with a direct response from the Canadians as Auger-Aliassime struck an inside-out forehand winner to stage the set at 4-all.

With Heliovarra serving down 5-6, the Canadians ramped up extra strain on return to carry up two match factors. One last large forehand return from Shapovalov drew a pressured error from Virtanen, clinching the victory for the Canucks.

Canada now sits first place in Group D with a 5-1 file by way of two ties. They’ll face Nice Britain on Sunday.