CANADA 3, SLOVAKIA 2
Venue: NTC Arena, Bratislava, Slovakia
Surface: Clay, Indoors
In September 1997, when Slovakia defeated Canada in the two nations’ only previous Davis Cup meeting, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov had not been born. More than 21 years later, the #NextGenATP duo was responsible for levelling Canada’s head-to-head record against Slovakia, rallying from 1-2 down in Bratislava to earn Davis Cup Finals qualification.
Starting the day at 1-1, Martin Klizan and Filip Polasek came from a set down to beat Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, earning Slovakia the lead. But Shapovalov, who reached his maiden clay-court ATP Masters 1000 semi-final at the Mutua Madrid Open in May 2018 (l. to Zverev), soon sent the tie into a decisive fifth rubber, beating Klizan 7-6(4), 6-4 in one hour and 45 minutes.
“I think with today’s result, the debate as to whether I can play on clay is definitely over,” Shapovalov told DavisCup.com. “The level of tennis was very high today. [I am] very happy to get the win for Canada, we really needed it.”
The 18-year-old Auger-Aliassime then completed Canada’s comeback, defeating Norbert Gombos 6-3, 6-4 in 88 minutes. The victory was Auger-Aliassime’s first in Davis Cup competition, following his debut loss to Klizan on Friday.
GERMANY 5, HUNGARY 0
Venue: Fraport Arena, Frankfurt, Germany
Surface: Hard, Indoors
After winning both opening singles rubbers, Germany completed a perfect tie in Frankfurt with three victories on Saturday. The home nation clinched victory with Tim Puetz and Jan-Lennard Struff’s 6-2, 6-3 win over Gabor Borsos and Peter Nagy, before Alexander Zverev and Philipp Kohlschreiber scored their second wins of the tie.
Zverev dropped only three points behind his second serve (7/10) to beat Borsos 6-3, 6-4, while Kohlschreiber edged David Szintai 6-7(5), 6-3, 10-5. Kohlschreiber hit eight aces and earned the only break of the match, in the second set, to triumph after one hour and 38 minutes.
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Source: ATP World Tour
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