Dwarf Finland causes huge Davis Cup sensation
Finland has never been a major tennis power. But at the Davis Cup final tournament in Malaga, the country pulled off a real coup. It defeats the defending champions and reaches the semi-finals for the first time ever. For dominator Novak Djokovic, things only start later.
Defending champions Canada surprisingly missed out on the semi-finals of the Davis Cup final tournament in Malaga. In the absence of injured top player Felix Auger-Aliassime, the favorites lost 1:2 against Finland. The opponents of the Northern Lights, who are in the final round for the first time ever, will be determined this Wednesday by the Czech Republic and Australia (4 pm/DAZN).
Milos Raonic made short work of Patrick Kaukovalta on his comeback in the Canadian team at the start of the final tournament in the traditional Nations Cup. The former world number three won 6:3, 7:5 in just 1:09 hours. The 32-year-old serving giant had played his last match for Canada in 2018.
"It was a fantastic feeling. I've missed a lot in the last few years. It's an incredible honor to be here and experience this again," said Raonic after the match. The 2016 Wimbledon finalist has been repeatedly set back by injuries in the past.
Absence of Auger-Aliassime fatal
The absence of Canadian number one Auger-Aliassime then made itself felt in the second singles match of the evening. Instead of the world number 29, Gabriel Diallo, ranked 110 places further back, took on Otto Virtanen and was beaten 4:6, 5:7.
Virtanen, 171st in the ATP rankings, finally became the hero for the Finns in the decisive doubles match with Harri Heliovaara. The duo won 7:5, 6:3 against Alexis Galarneau/Vasek Pospisil and thus caused the first big surprise of the tournament in their first duel.
In the other quarter-finals on Thursday, the Serbs and dominator Novak Djokovic will face Great Britain (4 p.m.) and Italy will play the Netherlands (10 a.m.). The final will take place on Sunday (4 pm/all DAZN).
The German team, who were beaten by eventual winners Canada in the quarter-finals last season, failed to qualify for the final round of the best eight teams this year. However, with a win against Bosnia-Herzegovina in September, the German Tennis Federation team at least secured their place in the World Group.
Novak Djokovic, the dominant figure in tennis, will face Great Britain in the Davis Cup quarter-finals. Despite Finland's impressive run, they will not be his opponents in this stage, as they were eliminated earlier.
Source: www.ntv.de
