Exuding poise under pressure, singles standouts led Germany back to the Davis Cup semifinals.
World No. 43 Jan-Lennard Struff edged Canadian Denis Shapovalov 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(5) sealing Germany’s 2-0 triumph over Canada in today’s best-of-three-match Davis Cup quarterfinal in Malaga, Spain.
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Struff, who defeated Taylor Fritz to capture his first career ATP title in Munich last spring, hung tough down the stretch and played cleaner tennis throughout the match.
The left-handed Shapovalov stung 27 aces, but betrayed his cause clanking 13 double faults, including dumping a double fault on match point to end a two hour, seven-minute tussle.
It sends Germany into its first Davis Cup semifinal since 2021.
Three-time Davis Cup champion Germany will face The Netherlands, which toppled host Spain in Rafael Nadal’s farewell yesterday, in Friday’s semifinals.
Earlier, Daniel Altmaier defeat Gabriel Diallo 7-6(5), 6-4 staking Germany to a 1-0 lead over the 2022 champion.
In his 2024 Davis Cup debut, Altmaier cracked 10 aces against one double fault and saved five of six break points in a one hour, 57-minute victory.
“Playing in the finals, I haven’t played Davis Cup all year,” Altmaier said in his on-court interview. “I’m proud to help the team get the first victory.
“I think we are in a great position now. The mental side is crucial. It’s huge motivation for me. My fighting spirit helped me win the first set and then I was getting into a better rhythm.”
Though Struff carried a 6-3 head-to-head edge over Shapovalov onto court, the 56th-ranked Canadian snatched a one-set lead today.
One hundred minutes into the match, Shapovalov lost the serving plot and donated the break.
The left-hander double-faulted into net to face a break point, bouncing his Yonex stick off the court in frustration.
Facing break point, Shapovalov double faulted again to gift the break and a 4-3 lead to Germany. Shapovalov spiked his racquet off the blue hard court as he walked to his court-side seat knowing Struff was two holds away from ending it.
Serving for the semifinal at 5-4, Struff was stranded near the center of the court as Shapovalov smacked a backhand crosscourt to reach love-30 on the German’s serve.
Shapovalov ran down a short volley and rapped a backhand the tall German could not handle for double break point.
A jittery Struff double-faulted the break back and the final set was level 5-all.
Massive pressure was evident as Shapovalov double faulted and missed a backhand to face double break point. Shapovalov summed some heavy serves, erasing break points and navigating a tough hold for 6-5.
Struff worked through a tense deuce hold to force the third-set tiebreaker.
Stress spiked at 4 apiece in the tiebreaker. Struff scalded a forehand into the corner for the mini break and a 5-4 lead.
A bold forehand Shapovalov strike regained the mini break to level at 5-all.
Ultimately, serving under pressure proved pivotal. Struff serve and volleyed successfully to earn match point at 6-5.
Shapovalov spit up his 13th double fault bringing an anti-climactic ending to high drama.