Denis Shapovalov defeats Daniel Evans, sends Canada to Davis Cup Final 8 | ATP Tour

Matching Report

Shapovalov sends Canada to Davis Cup Final 8, Italy wins Group A

Australia has already won against Spain

September 15, 2024

Under pressure, Denis Shapovalov traveled to Canada on Sunday to oust the former champion in the Davis Cup Final 8 in Malaga. Needing a single point from his all-conquering match against Great Britain, Shapovalov cruised past Daniel Evans 6-0, 7-5 to give Canada a 1-0 lead in their Group D match.

Argentina advanced to Group D in Manchester on Saturday, with their 3-0 win over Finland leaving Great Britain needing to beat Canada by the same score to join Guillermo Coria’s side.

However, Evans struggled to match Shapovalov, who fired 25 winners and saved the break points he faced to earn his country a crucial point.

Felix Auger-Aliassime then put icing on an already well-deserved cake when he defeated US Open semi-finalist Jack Draper 7-6(8), 7-5 in two hours and seven minutes. Auger-Aliassime, who avenged her Cincinnati loss to Britain’s lefty Draper, impressed on the hard courts in Manchester this week, not dropping a set in all three matches.

In two matches, England’s Neal Skupski and Henry Patten defeated Gabriel Diallo and Alexis Galarneau 7-6(4), 6-4.

In Group A, Flavio Cobolli ensured Italy finished top. The No. 32 player in the PIF ATP Rankings beat Tallon Griekspoor 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-3 to give the defending champion a 2-0 lead in his match against the Netherlands.

The Netherlands must win the double rubber or Brazil will finish second in Group A on set difference. Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori take on Wesley Koolhof and Botic van de Zandschulp on Sunday night.

In the first match of the day, former Top 10 player Matteo Berrettini staged a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 comeback win over van de Zandschulp to advance Italy. Van de Zandschulp upset Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open but could not withstand Berrettini’s power.

The 28-year-old welcomed Jannik Sinner following his victory after the World No. 1 came to Bologna to please his countrymen. Sinner, who won his second major at the US Open last week, secured victories over Novak Djokovic and Alex de Minaur to help Italy win last year’s Davis Cup.

These two 🫶🇮🇹 @MattBerrettini again @janniksin we celebrated together after Berrettini’s win 🥹#DavisCup pic.twitter.com/FiIfTe6gXH

– Davis Cup (@DavisCup) September 15, 2024

Canada and Italy joined Australia, Spain, the United States, Germany and Argentina in the Final 8.

In Group C, the United States and Germany have already sealed the top two spots and qualification for the Final 8 in Malaga when Chile face Slovakia on Sunday in Zhuhai.

The return of Nicolas Jarry helped Chile to a 2-1 victory over Slovakia in the final match, teaming with Tomas Barrios Vera to win a marathon double over Norbert Gombos and Lukas Klein 6-4, 6-7(3), 7-6(5). ).

The Chilean dropped three points in the second game before saving one en route to a break in the third set, where they prevailed.

The result, combined with Cristian Garin’s opener against Gombos, meant Chile secured third place in the group ahead of Slovakia, improving their chances of securing a place in the 2025 Qualifying Droot.

In Group B, Australia faced Spain in Valencia, where both countries were already in the Final 8. Pablo Carreno Busta defeated Jordan Thompson 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(3) in the opening match to give Spain 1. -0 before Montreal champion Alexei Popyrin defeated Pedro Martinez 6-4, 6-4 to level with Australia.

In the two deciding rubbers, Marcel Granollers and Pedro Martinez defeated Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. Purcell recently won the US Open title with local man Thompson.