#NextGenATP Canadians Auger-Aliassime & Shapovalov Shine In Comeback

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 even 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.

Earlier in the day, Martin Klizan and Filip Polasek had come from a set down to beat Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 and earn Slovakia a 2-1 lead. But Shapovalov 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 booked Canada’s place in the 18-nation event, 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 after 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 clinched the only break of the match, in the second set, to triumph after one hour and 38 minutes.