Canada beats Australia to win first Davis Cup title

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Málaga, Spain — Canada won their first Davis Cup title on Sunday, defeating Australia with victories for Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime.

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Montreal’s Auger-Aliassime defeated Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-3 to clinch the title.

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Shapovalov, from Richmond Hill, Ontario, won Canada’s first singles match on Sunday — beating Tanasi Kokkinakis 6-2, 6-4.

Shapovalov has lost both of his singles matches this week and needed treatment for his back when he lost Saturday’s semi-final in three sets to Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego after 3 hours and 15 minutes.

But the left-hander moved quickly around the court on Sunday, setting the angle to clear the winner while taking a 4-0 lead in the first set.

Auger-Aliassime then wrapped up the second half of the season with a perfect week in Spain. After Shapovalov dropped his first singles match, he kept the Canadian alive twice before joining Vasek Pospisil on Saturday to replace his weary teammate to score the decisive doubles point.

This time I made sure I didn’t even need a doubles match.

It was Canada’s first Davis Cup final appearance in four years. A Canadian team featuring Shapovalov, Auger-Aliassime and Vasek Pospisil advanced to his 2019 final, where he lost 2-0 to Spain.