ATP Cup: Canada Stun Defending Champions Russia To Reach Final

Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov stunned defending champions Russia Saturday in a decisive doubles rubber to send Canada storming into an ATP Cup final against Spain.

Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov stunned defending champions Russia Saturday in a decisive doubles rubber to send Canada storming into an ATP Cup final against Spain. Their Sydney showdown went to the wire after Shapovalov neutralised Roman Safiullin 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in the opening singles match. But world number two Daniil Medvedev then thrashed 11th-ranked Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 6-0 to level it up with a flawless performance in an ominous warning ahead of the Australian Open later this month. It forced the match into a doubles shoot-out which looked to be going Russia's way only for Canada to find an extra gear and grind out a 4-6, 7-5, 10-7 win to make their first-ever final in the team event.

"Felix did an amazing job. I had a little bit of a slow start, had trouble returning, but we did a good job to fight," said Shapovalov, who missed Canada's first singles match at the tournament while he recovered from Covid-19.

"We have great team chemistry, team spirit, so it helped us a lot."

Auger-Aliassime admitted he was down on confidence after crashing so heavily in the singles against Medvedev, but said his long-time friend Shapovalov helped him re-focus.

"I had to try and stay positive. Of course, it was tough, especially (because) that second set went the way it went in singles," he said.