Canada are in Russ to make some history
Canada will play in the Davis Cup Final for the first time after Denis Shapovalov and Vasek Pospisil combined to dump Russia.
After singles victories for Andrey Rublev and Shapovalov left the semi-final on a knife edge, the Canadians edged in a double thriller.
Pospisil teamed up with Shapovalov to beat Rublev and Karen Khachanov 6-3 3-6 7-6 (5) in a memorable decider.
A nerve-shredding affair went the distance, as so many ties have in this new-look format, but a final backhand long from Rublev sent Shapovalov and Pospisil leaping into the air and into each other’s arms.
“I have no words, it’s unbelievable,” said 20-year-old Shapovalov on court as their fans celebrated. “You have to play some ridiculous tennis at a ridiculous level and we did that.”
The Canadians and Russians have both used just two players during the competition, with Khachanov and Rublev on their own after the withdrawal through fatigue of main man Daniil Medvedev.
Canada have benched Shapovalov’s Junior Davis Cup-winning team-mate Felix AugerAliassime following an ankle problem and were without Milos Raonic due to injury.
The first rubber pitted two of this week’s biggest stars against each other.
Neither Rublev or Pospisil had lost a singles match but it was the Russian who kept his record intact with a 6-4 6-4 victory.
That put the pressure on world No.15 Shapovalov against Khachanov and the Canadian No.1 did not falter, coming from 1-4 down to win the first set and then recovering from 0-40 to serve out the match 6-4 4-6 6-4.
And that set the stage for Canada to book a final slot with their dramatic doubles win.
Roger Federer was forced to tearfully cancel an exhibition match against Alex
Zverev due to a night-time curfew in Bogota.
The Swiss star has caused controversy by shunning the Davis Cup finals to go on a money-spinning tour of South America.
But political protests in Colombia against the government have seen an 9pm curfew imposed. Organisers shifted the start of Federer’s match from 8pm to 6.45pm but the event was then cancelled with the stadium full.
An emotional Federer said: “I was ready to go and so was Sacha, we are so sorry.”