German players Tim Puetz and Kevin Krawietz entered the Davis Cup quarterfinals with eight straight wins, only to see their perfect run interrupted at the most inopportune moment. Canada, propelled by a bold run to the semi finals with Vasek Pospisil and Denis Shapovalov, won 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in a decisive encounter.
The Maple Leaf team carried momentum, and their 2-1 result marked a historic moment as they prepared to face Italy for a chance at a final on Saturday.
Shapovalov was involved in a gripping tie that featured high drama. He dropped his singles match to Jan-Lennard Struff, a dangerous hard court opponent, before bouncing back in the doubles decision with Pospisil to push Canada toward victory.
In the deciding match, Canada faced a brief two service breaks in the first set, with Pospisil stepping up. Shapovalov, however, made a quick error at the net that helped tilt the balance.
Canada completed an exciting doubles streak and advanced to the semi finals
☑️ Shapovalov and Pospisil recovered and defeated German Krawietz and Puetz.
Now Canada would meet Italy for a shot at the final in Malaga #DavisCup #byRakuten #son8 joyful @TennisCanada
— Davis Cup
The North American duo opened the second set with a break on Krawietz, just as the clock neared the hour. The Germans had one chance to reclaim the break, but Canada held firm.
Canada built the match’s decisive shape with a new break on Krawietz’s serve to take a 2-1 lead. The German challenge did not end there, but the Canadian pair kept pressing. A remarkable rally at 5-3 culminated in a comeback by Shapovalov that left the German side reeling and enabled a 0-40 advantage that ended the decisive frame for Canada.
Earlier, Struff defeated Shapovalov 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 in a tight encounter that showcased Struff’s consistency and mood swings on a surface tailored for the fastest play. Struff clinched the tiebreak with a string of points and sealed the set to give Germany the first point. The German fighter endured the match’s ups and downs, letting frustration show as mistakes mounted and the stands reacted to the fast-paced track.
In the third set tiebreak, Struff took control and closed the game with four consecutive winners.
Soon after, Felix Auger-Aliassime, ranked sixth among the final-stage competitors in Malaga, took the court and overcame Germany’s Oscar Otte in a demanding affair, 7-6 (1) and 6-4. The result left the tie at 1-1.
Celebrations in Malaga ✨ #DavisCup #byRakuten #son8 | @TennisCanada
— Davis Cup
The Canadian side opened nervously, aware that they could not afford another loss, and the tiebreak offered a glimpse of what lay ahead. The tie-break was won 7-1, a sign of the team’s growing confidence as the singles players adjusted to the pressure.
In the final stages of the match, Canada finally found a way to break Otte’s serve for the first time this season in Davis Cup play, a breakthrough moment that signaled a victory beyond doubt. The match concluded with a clean game as the Canadians sealed the win.
After thanking his teammates for their support, Shapovalov reflected that any player inside the Top 50 can pose a threat at any moment, underlining the collective effort that carried the team forward.
Germany and Canada had never met in the Davis Cup prior to this tie, with Germany boasting three previous titles while Canada had yet to win the competition. The absence of Alexander Zverev due to injury left Germany without players inside the world top 60 for this final stage.
Davis will compete in the 2022 semi-finals on Thursday after Australia meets Croatia on Friday and Italy faces Canada on Saturday.
Australia eliminated the Netherlands and is pursuing its 29th title. The team has not reached the semifinals since 2017 and has not won the Davis Cup since 2003.
Italy, which defeated the United States in the quarterfinals, has won the Davis Cup only once, in 1976, and had not reached the semifinals since 2014.
Canada was the last side to secure advancement by defeating Germany.
The organizers celebrated healthy attendance at the Martin Carpena Sports Palace for another day. The venue drew 9,486 spectators, a figure not reached on Wednesday when Spain played, but higher than Tuesday and the morning and evening sessions, with a daily total around 8,000 spectators for each half of the day.
The Davis Cup in Malaga continued to thrill fans with a mix of drama, perseverance, and the unyielding drive of national teams, setting the stage for a dramatic semi-final lineup that would captivate fans across North America and Europe.