Canada have won their first Davis Cup after beating Australia in the final, which there in Malaga, Spain. Canada was making their second appearance at the final of the competition, where players team up according to their country of origin. In 2019, they were denied the chance by Spain. But on Sunday, they fought strongly to subdue Australia and take home the trophy. 

Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime helped rally their team to victory from early in the day. Shapovalov first set them on a path to victory after defeating Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-2 6-4. This provided a strong foundation for Auger-Aliassime to step up and produce a straight-set defeat over Alex de Minaur, after hitting six aces and not breaking any serve. 

That was how Canada was able to triumph over 28-time winner Australia. Speaking after the match, Auger-Aliassime said that the win was something they have all dreamt of before, adding that they had all taken time to better themselves individually before coming together as a team, which was what contributed to their successes. 

He said: “The emotions are tough to describe. I think all of us here, we’ve dreamt of this moment. We all developed as players individually; we got better and better over the years. 

“I mean these guys around me, except Vasek, he’s a little bit older than me, but we grew up together from the ages of seven, eight years old, back in Canada dreaming of being on this stage, winning these types of matches, winning the Davis Cup, so it’s really a dream come true.

“For me personally and all the team, that’s what we play for, that’s what sport is for, tennis is for, so it was a great moment. A great moment for myself and the country.”

Leon Osamor