SYDNEY, Jan 8: Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov qualified Canada for its first ATP Cup final on Saturday when they defeated Daniil Medvedev and Roman Safiullin 4-6, 7-5, 10-7 in doubles to complete a 2-1 win against Russia.
Canada will play Spain in the final on Sunday.
Medvedev and Safiullin had been 3-0 in doubles this week but the Canadians ending that winning streak.
Shapovalov got the match off to a good start for Canada by beating Safiullin 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in the opening singles, but Medvedev leveled with a 6-4, 6-0 victory against Auger-Aliassime.
“I had to try and stay positive. Of course it was tough, especially that second set went the way it went,” Auger-Aliassime said.
“That’s what the ATP Cup is about. You can still win after being 1-all and losing a tough singles. It’s really about the team effort and we’re happy to be through.”
Spain beat Canada 2-0 in the 2019 Davis Cup final. “We’ll definitely try to turn the script,” Shapovalov said (AP)
