Auger-Aliassime, Shapovalov Stay Hot, Canada beats Finland at Davis Cup – Tennis Canada

Another day of strong singles performances by Denis Shapovalov and Félix Auger-Aliassime gave Team Canada their second victory of the 2024 Davis Cup Finals group stage in Manchester as they hold an insurmountable 2-0 lead against Finland. 

Shapovalov finished strong as he opened the day with a win over Eero Vasa, setting up Auger-Aliassime to clinch the tie with a victory against Otto Virtanen, avenging Canada’s loss to the Finns in the 2023 Davis Cup quarter-finals. 

While Canada has not yet clinched a spot in the Davis Cup Final 8 in Malaga, they could do so without hitting another ball depending on the results over the next two days before Canada plays Great Britain on Sunday. 

Shapovalov once again did his job to give Team Canada the lead at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals group stage in Manchester, defeating Eero Vasa in straight sets on Thursday to score the opening point in their second round-robin tie against Finland. 

Quick starts in both sets put the wind at the Canadian’s back, although Vasa did not go away quietly. Shapovalov had to hold his never to keep the powerful Finn at bay and give Canada the 1-0 lead with a 7-6(2), 6-2, win. 

Apart from one game early in the first set, it was a brilliant serving performance from Shapovalov, who only lost 10 points on serve in the whole match, just two in the second set. The Canadian won 84 per cent of his first serve points and only faced two break points in the match. He also had 16 winners to his opponent’s seven, while Vasa threw in 40 unforced errors.  

Shapovalov came charging out of the gate, winning 12 of the first 13 points including all eight on his serve of which five were unreturned serves. Vasa was struggling to find his range early and a double fault followed by a forehand well long gave away an early break. 

Read also: Shapovalov, Auger-Aliassime Power Canada Past Argentina at Davis Cup

Once the Finn settled in, he was able to turn the momentum around quickly. He used his big first serve to start holding and Shapovalov played a sloppy game at 3-1, double-faulting to give the break back. The two remained even for the rest of the set, although Vasa did have to save a set point on his serve at 4-5, delivering an ace. 

In the tiebreak, Shapovalov again raced out to a 3-0 lead, courtesy of consecutive errors by Vasa on his own serve, and this time he did not let his early advantage slip away. He led the breaker wire to wire and took the opening set. 

Just like the first, Shapovalov came out flying to start the second set while Vasa looked sluggish. The Canadian broke to love in the opening game, courtesy of a Vasa double fault, a then backed it up with a hold to love for a 2-0 lead.  

Read also: Canadian Doubles Steal the Show in Toronto

There was no letdown in the second set. Shapovalov was in full flow, forcing Vasa to run laps behind the baseline with his pinpoint groundstrokes. The serve was untouchable as the Canadian won his first 12 points in a row, three love holds, and added a second break for good measure on his way to victory.  

Clutch Play from FAA 

For the second tie in a row, Félix Auger-Aliassime came out for the second singles match with a chance to seal the win for Team Canada and once again made no mistake, beating Otto Virtanen in straight sets to clinch the tie. 

Auger-Aliassime was able to handle the Finn bold hitting and seized his opportunities when they arose, making his move late in both sets for a 6-2, 6-3 win. 

Like his countryman, the Canadian delivered a strong service performance, winning 86 per cent of his first serve points and never dropping serve, saving all three break points he faced. Virtanen’s big hitting, which was so deadly in the 2023 quarter-final between the two nations, was not as effective on Thursday as he committed 33 unforced errors. 

Read also: Auger-Aliassime, Shapovalov Back with a Bang at Davis Cup

Unlike the previous tie, where Auger-Aliassime practically mirrored Shapovalov’s performance on the scoreboard, the Canadian picked up his game as the set went along. His first look at a break came at 3-2 when Virtanen netted a serve-and-volley attempt and on the ensuing break point, Auger-Aliassime dominated the rally, eventually finishing with a forehand winner to seize the initiative. 

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

Virtanen had a chance to change the momentum in the opening game of the second set when Auger-Aliassime missed a backhand to give him a pair of break points. But the Canadian found the big-hitting he needed to bash his way out of the jam. 

Read also: Draper Leads Canada’s Opposition in Davis Cup Group Stage – Meet Great Britain, Argentina, and Finland

That hold allowed the Montrealer to get back on the front foot. After missing a break point in the fourth game, he made his move at the same time he did in the opening set. As the set went along, Virtanen’s game was becoming more erratic and at 3-2, a slew of errors gave Auger-Aliassime 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 needed to lock up the win and the tie. Shapovalov and Auger-Aliassime are also scheduled to play the doubles.