This story was originally published by Dead Spin
Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime handily won their singles matches to guide Canada to a 2-1 victory over Argentina on the first day of the Davis Cup Finals group stage Tuesday in Manchester, England.
In Group D action, Shapovalov hit six aces and went 4-for-4 converting break points en route to defeating Francisco Cerundolo 7-5, 6-3. It was an upset based on ATP ranking, with Shapovalov the No. 100 player in the world compared to Cerundolo at No. 31.
Auger-Aliassime then guaranteed Canada’s first victory of the group stage by beating Sebastian Baez 6-3, 6-3. Argentina got a point back in the doubles match when Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni beat Shapovalov and Vasek Pospisil 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.
In Group C in Zhuhai, China, Germany earned the only 3-0 sweep of the day over Slovakia. Maximilian Marterer defeated Lukas Klein 6-4, 7-5; Yannick Hanfmann rallied to topple Jozef Kovalik 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3); and the German doubles team of Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz swept past Klein and Igor Zelenay 7-5, 6-3.
The other two matches saw Belgium and Australia prevail after nervy three-set doubles matches.
In Group A in Bologna, Italy, Belgium defeated the Netherlands 2-1. Botic van de Zandschulp got the Dutch their first point by beating Raphael Collignon 7-5, 7-6 (6). Zizou Bergs drew Belgium even by outlasting Tallon Griekspoor 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-3.
The doubles match saw Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen seal the deal for Belgium by beating van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4.
In Group B in Valencia, Spain, Australia held off France 2-1. Thanasi Kokkinakis eked past Arthur Fils 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3) to put Australia on the board first, but Frenchman Ugo Humbert defeated Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 6-2.
In doubles, Australians Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell pulled away from Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Edouard Roger-Vasselin 7-5, 5-7, 6-3.
The group stage continues Wednesday, with the U.S. team set to play their first Group C match against Chile in Zhuhai.
–Field Level Media
