Felix Auger-Aliassime clinched the ATP Cup title for Canada on Sunday with a 7-6 (3), 6-3 singles victory over Roberto Bautista Agut to give his country an insurmountable 2-0 lead against Spain.
Denis Shapovalov opened the match for Canada with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Pablo Carreno Busta.
B次元官网网址淭he emotions are unbelievable,B次元官网网址� Auger-Aliassime said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 no better feeling than winning. We left everything out there.B次元官网网址�
The results capped a remarkable turnaround for the Canadians after they dropped their first four matches at the annual team competition.
B次元官网网址淎s the week went on I think we played some really good matches and we got more and more belief,B次元官网网址� said Auger-Aliassime. B次元官网网址淏ut I think the trust and the belief never went away the whole week for everybody on the team.B次元官网网址�
The 16 teams in the field were divided into four groups, with the winners of each group advancing to the semifinals.
Canada opened with a 3-0 loss to the United States before rebounding with wins over Germany and Great Britain to finish first in Group C.
Auger-Aliassime, from Montreal, and Shapovalov, from Richmond Hill, Ont., won a deciding doubles match against Russia to knock out the defending champions.
And with the title on the line, they played their best tennis Sunday to defeat two-time finalists Spain.
Auger-Aliassime saved 10 of the 11 break points he faced and had 15 aces. Shapovalov, who lost four of five previous matches against Carreno Busta, was also in form.
Brayden Schnur of Pickering, Ont., and TorontoB次元官网网址檚 Steven Diez were also on the Canadian roster.
B次元官网网址淒efinitely huge credits to everyone on the team for believing and fighting and putting the work in,B次元官网网址� Shapovalov said. B次元官网网址淚 mean these guys did such an amazing job on the bench and obviously Felix on the court.
B次元官网网址淚 mean it was just a great team effort.B次元官网网址�
Schnur was a late replacement in the opening singles match on Jan. 1 after Shapovalov couldnB次元官网网址檛 play due to fatigue. He was still recovering after contracting COVID-19 at a recent tournament in the Middle East.
B次元官网网址淥bviously we had a really tough start,B次元官网网址� Shapovalov said. B次元官网网址淏ut we kept fighting, kept believing.B次元官网网址�
The ATP Cup made its debut in 2020. It also serves as a warm-up event for the Australian Open.
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With files from The Canadian Press.
The Associated Press
