By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday January 9, 2022
Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime didn't drop a set in Sunday's ATP Cup final as Canada swept past Spain.
Photo Source: Getty
Not known for their performances in ATP Finals, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov flipped the script and booked a prestigious title for Canada as they swept past Team Spain at the ATP Cup on Sunday evening in Sydney.
Shapovalov – aged 22 and 1-3 in ATP Finals – and Auger-Aliassime – 0-8 in ATP Title matches and aged 21 – looked like steely veterans against the Spanish duo of Pablo Carreno Busta and Roberto Bautista Agut.
Canada lost their first four matches of this ATP Cup, including a sweep at the hands of Team USA in their first tie, but recovered to make good on the promise that so many have seen in the Canadian men over the last three seasons.
Shapovalov got the ball rolling by snapping a three match losing streak against Carreno Busta, 6-4, 6-3. The World No. 14 had to battle tooth and nail but was better when it mattered most, just like his compatriot was in the second match of the evening against Bautista Agut.
The Spaniard entered the contest with an 11-2 ATP Cup record but he was cut off by Auger-Aliassime at every turn as the 11th-ranked Canadian notched one of his biggest victories.
Auger Aliassime broke open the close match with a break for 5-3 in the second set and he served out the match in the next game, with Shapovalov waiting in the locker room tunnel, waiting to storm the court.
He was in the locker to prepare for a deciding doubles that never happened – Canada was simply too good on this night.
“Well, of course it was not the end that we expect today but it's true that they play two really good matches,” Carreno Busta said after the final. “They are very young and they are improving their tennis a lot, that's normal.
“Probably today we didn't take advantage of our opportunities, but that's tennis and we try until the end. I think that we make very good week in this week, playing really good matches. Roberto making very good effort during all the week, and just today wasn't the best for us but I tried to continue the way and improving for the next weeks.”
“I think Canada has a very complete team. No. 1 and No. 2 players are very good and they can play very good doubles also,” Bautista Agut added. “And I think they will be facing the final rounds in the team competitions because both of them are one of the best players in the world.”
More to follow….