Shapovalov Edges Berrettini, Secures Opening Davis Cup Finals Win For Canada

#NextGenATP Denis Shapovalov clinched an opening-day victory for Canada on Monday at the Davis Cup Finals in Madrid. The 20-year-old left-hander, who reached the Rolex Paris Masters final earlier this month (l. to Djokovic), edged Nitto ATP Finals qualifier Matteo Berrettini of Italy 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 7-6(5) to put Canada up 2-0 and guarantee them the win against Italy in Group F.

Canada’s Vasek Pospisil beat Fabio Fognini, No. 12 in the ATP Rankings, 7-6(5), 7-5 earlier Monday.

“I’m really happy to get the win and against such an amazing player as Matteo,” Shapovalov told DavisCupFinals.com. “He’s had such an unbelievable season, and he’s playing some great tennis. It’s amazing to win the match, especially like this, in three tie-break sets.”

Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov went unbeaten in singles and doubles action to give Russia a 3-0 win against Croatia in Group B. Rublev dismissed Borna Gojo 6-3, 6-3, and Khachanov beat Borna Coric 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4. Khachanov had been 0-2 against Coric in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series.

In doubles, Khachanov/Rublev teamed up to beat Ivan Dodig/Nikola Mektic 7-6(3), 6-4.

In Group D, Steve Darcis and David Goffin both won in singles to secure an opening 2-1 win for Belgium against Colombia. Darcis beat Santiago Giraldo 6-3, 6-2, and Goffin beat Daniel Elahi Galan 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. Juan Sebastian Cabal/Robert Farah, year-end No. 1 team in the ATP Doubles Rankings, put Colombia on the board with a 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(3) victory against Sander Gille/Joran Vliegen.

In the revamped Davis Cup Finals, the six group winners qualify for the quarter-finals, along with the two runners-up with the best records.