Felix Auger-Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov react to Canada winning Davis Cup title



by DZEVAD MESIC

Felix Auger-Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov react to Canada winning Davis Cup title

Felix Auger-Aliassime, 22, admitted it was hard to describe the emotions he was feeling after he and Denis Shapovalov sealed Canada its first Davis Cup title. On Sunday, Canada defeated Australia 2-0 in the final at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga.

In the opening match of the final, Shapovalov ousted Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-2 6-4. After Shapovalov gave Canada an early lead, Auger-Aliassime defeated Alex de Minaur 6-3 6-4 to seal the triumph for Canada. “The emotions are tough to describe.

Denis and I grew up together, dreaming of these types of stage, dreaming of winning the Davis Cup. It’s a great moment for myself and for the country," Auger-Aliassime said, per the Davis Cup Finals website.

Auger-Aliassime, Shapovalov get the job done for Canada

Shapovalov, 23, made his Davis Cup debut in 2016, when he was just a teenager.

Now, he played a key role in Canada winning its first Davis Cup title. “From when we were juniors, watching Vasek [Pospisil], Milos Raonic and Daniel Nestor play Davis Cup, we wanted to do the same, and maybe even to win it one day.

It was tough to lose in 2019, it was an empty feeling and we wanted it badly this time,” Shapovalov said. However, Canada's win wasn't only special to Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov. 32-year-old Vasek Pospisil, who made his Davis Cup debut in 2007, dreamed of this moment for a very long time.

“We’ve been dreaming about this for several years. To be here as world champions, I’m speechless. These guys are not kids any more. They’ve been crushing it. You can’t win this event without tremendous team chemistry, going forwards as one unit, and all these guys represent exactly that," Pospisil said. By winning this year's Davis Cup Finals, Canada has become the 16th nation with a Davis Cup title.

Felix Auger-aliassime Denis Shapovalov Davis Cup