By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Jan-Lennard Struff edged Denis Shapovalov 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(5) sealing Germany’s 2-0 triumph over Canada in today’s Davis Cup quarterfinals.
Photo credit: Jorge Guerrero/AFP/Getty for ITF Davis Cup
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.
More: Rafael Nadal Defines Legacy in Three Words
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.