Revenge is a dish greatest served with tea and crumpets.
There was loads of it to go round for Group Canada on Thursday in Manchester on the Davis Cup Finals Group Stage because the Canadians avenged their title defence-ending defeat within the 2023 Davis Cup Closing 8 to Finland with a sweep.
However for the boys of Group Canada, it was not about tagging the Finns again for that November loss.
When requested in his post-victory interview if revenge was on his thoughts forward of the tie, Félix Auger-Aliassime stated, “any motivation is nice” however went on to say the circumstances of the 2 ties made revenge not notably related.
Canada defeated Finland 3-0, all straight-set wins, to stay atop group D.
“To be trustworthy, I didn’t even take into consideration the loss final November,” defined workforce captain Frank Dancevic in his post-tie press convention. “I Simply apprehensive about match-by-match, specializing in the gamers which might be taking part in that day and attempting to get by that match. I’m not interested by whether or not we performed them sixth months in the past or a 12 months in the past or gained or misplaced previously. At the moment is a special day. Totally different circumstances, totally different gamers, totally different all the pieces. We’re simply going about our enterprise.”
Learn additionally: Auger-Aliassime, Shapovalov Again with a Bang at Davis Cup
As for the for matches he was centered on, Dancevic “Couldn’t have requested for extra immediately. I’m tremendous happy with the workforce.”
The scenario on Thursday was a lot totally different than it was when the 2 nations met final November. Neither of the Canadians who performed on Thursday, Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov, performed in that tie. The Montrealer was current however bodily unable to play, whereas Shapovalov had already shut his season down attributable to a knee harm suffered at Wimbledon.
This time, the Canadians had been wholesome and trying to remind everybody why they had been world champions lower than two years in the past.
“It’s a special 12 months, a special tie,” stated Auger-Aliassime, who needed to watch the Finland loss from the bench. “This was behind us, and this 12 months we’ve got a full workforce and everyone is taking part in higher than final 12 months, everybody has improved. That’s the largest factor.”
Shapovalov was not in Malaga for the loss to Finland. Whereas he didn’t say something about revenge, he definitely got here out of the gate wanting like he had a degree to show. He solely wanted 74 minutes to place away Eero Vasa within the opening match of the day.
Learn additionally: Canadian Doubles Steal the Present in Toronto
“Positively comfortable to get the win,” stated Shapovalov post-match. “Clearly I had a extremely good begin after which received slightly bit tight there. I feel Eero additionally picked up his stage. I used to be comfortable to win that tiebreak and I used to be capable of hold it going within the second. After profitable that first set, I simply loosened up sufficient to have the ability to play slightly extra freely and I feel I performed very well within the second.”
“Denis began off superb. First match, it’s by no means straightforward to win any match in Davis Cup. He discovered sufficient to get by, performed strong sufficient to get by. That was nice,” was the evaluation of Dancevic.
Auger-Aliassime needed to watch Otto Virtanen defeat Gabriel Diallo in November to show the tide of that quarter-final tie. He was not about to let it occur once more towards that very same Finn.
Learn additionally: Draper Leads Canada’s Opposition in Davis Cup Group Stage – Meet Nice Britain, Argentina, and Finland
“Tennis is a tricky sport. Days like this through the 12 months don’t occur on a regular basis so I’m going to take pleasure in myself immediately. I loved myself on the court docket and I’m proud of my recreation,” analyzed the Montrealer.
When requested if he felt extra motivated when representing his nation, the latest Olympic bronze medalist defined “I like taking part in for a much bigger function than simply myself. It’s a pleasant feeling. Once you win, it’s higher since you introduced one thing good to the workforce, one thing constructive. To see everyone, my teammates, the employees, to see all of them comfortable afterwards is admittedly gratifying.
To cap off the day, the previous buddies joined forces for a doubles win, their first time taking part in collectively since Might 2023.
Learn additionally: Shapovalov, Auger-Aliassime Energy Canada Previous Argentina at Davis Cup
“It was phenomenal. Only a actually clear day. Not rather more I may ask for as a captain,” stated Dancevic.
Canada is in a robust place to advance to the Davis Cup Closing 8 after profitable their first two ties in Manchester. They’d win the group in the event that they beat Nice Britain on Sunday however may clinch earlier than their remaining tie if Argentina loses both of their stay ties on Friday towards the Brits or Saturday towards the Finns.
