Staff Canada has constructive reminiscences of enjoying towards Germany within the Davis Cup quarter-finals on the Jose Maria Martin Carpena Enviornment in Malaga, Spain.
The 2 groups met within the final eight two years in the past right here, with Canada eeking out a comeback win 2-1 to kick off a run in Malaga that ended with lifting the Davis Cup trophy for the primary time. Canada and Germany will meet once more in the identical spherical of the competitors on the identical courtroom on Wednesday.
“It positively is among the proudest moments, successful [the Davis Cup] in 2022,” Vasek Pospisil instructed the media on Monday within the group’s pre-event press convention. “I’ve had a handful in my profession, and I’d put that up there, for positive Prime 3, if not No. 1, no query about it.”
That title run very almost got here to an finish a few rounds early at Germany’s arms. It was the closest Canada got here to dropping within the Last 8.
Relying on the nominations, which is able to solely come out simply earlier than the tie on Wednesday, there could possibly be quite a lot of parallels between the 2 encounters.
Denis Shapovalov is projected to face Jan-Lennard Struff as soon as once more, though this time within the second singles match. The German received in a third-set tiebreak within the 2022 quarter-final after they had been their nation’s No. 2 singles gamers.
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Although Struff received that match at this identical stage in Malaga two years in the past and leads their total head-to-head 6-3, the Canadian has cause to be assured as he’s arriving on a seven-match successful streak after claiming his first title in 5 years on the Belgrade Open. He’s 12-2 total for the reason that begin of October, whereas Struff has solely received two matches since Wimbledon.
“[Winning the title in Belgrade] positively offers you quite a lot of confidence,” mentioned Shapovalov. “I’ve been feeling good on these courts, as effectively. Clearly fully totally different situations than Belgrade, however for positive enjoying very effectively and really glad to be again, a part of the group. I simply hope I will help the group as a lot as doable.”
All 4 gamers who contested the decisive doubles match are again as effectively, Pospisil and Shapovalov for Canada, Kevin Krawietz and Tim Putz for Germany. It’s a protected assumption that the Germans will go together with the identical pair as two years in the past, whereas it’s a little much less clear for Canada.
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Germany’s greatest benefit within the tie may come into play if it goes the gap, as their doubles group is at present one of many hottest on tour. Krawietz and Putz simply received the ATP Finals, reached the ultimate of the US Open in September, and have been a dominant pressure within the Davis Cup since first becoming a member of forces in 2021, boasting an astounding 14-1 report.
Nevertheless, that one loss? To Shapovalov and Pospisil within the 2022 quarter-final on this identical courtroom in Malaga.
When requested if successful the 2 singles matches shall be much more crucial for Canada due to the German power in doubles, Shapovalov mentioned, “we all know they’ve a superb doubles group. Clearly successful two singles is the precedence, however with the format, it’s all the time extraordinarily tough. Lots of these ties come all the way down to the doubles. Me and Vasek beat them the final time we went up towards them. We consider in ourselves if it comes all the way down to that. The very best-case situation is that we win 2-0, however it’s powerful to all the time hope for that.”
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As for the 2024 conflict, group captain Frank Dancevic gave his evaluation.
“Their video games swimsuit this floor. They’ve large serves. They’re skilled gamers. They’ve a superb doubles group. Any group that’s right here within the quarterfinals goes to be a really powerful group to beat. We simply should be on. We now have to be enjoying effectively. All the blokes should be enjoying effectively to present ourselves an opportunity to win. That’s simply how it’s at this stage of the sport. Our job is to concentrate on ourselves, and whoever we play, whether or not we play Germany or Spain or Australia, it doesn’t matter. We concentrate on what now we have to do and attempt to get our group to be enjoying in addition to doable going into the primary match.”
Canada and Germany will contest their quarter-final on Wednesday, Nov. 20, with play getting underway at midday in Spain, 6:00 am EST in Canada.
Remembering Rafa
For anybody on-site in Malaga, and even actually following the protection of the Davis Cup Finals, one particular person is dominating the scene.
Rafael Nadal.
The Spanish celebrity is enjoying his last occasion this week in Malaga, bringing an finish to his legendary profession. Throughout Canada’s press convention, Shapovalov was requested what he considered Nadal’s pending retirement in Malaga.
“It’s going to be very emotional and I feel very dramatic within the sense of it’s going to imply so much to everybody,” answered the Canadian. “I feel he’s left a giant imprint on all tennis gamers and other people world wide generally, so positively hoping the perfect, want him the perfect, and I hope he can have great things going ahead after tennis.”
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Shapovalov was additionally requested about his favorite reminiscences enjoying towards Nadal, which he did six occasions on tour, to which the Canadian quipped, “beating him?” with fun. He then went on to say:
There was quite a lot of good moments, good matches between me and Rafa. Clearly some I’ve received; most I’ve misplaced [Nadal leads the head-to-head 4-2]. It’s been enjoyable to go up towards him and battle. I feel top-of-the-line matches or most entertaining matches we performed was in Australian Open, the 5 units within the quarterfinals [in 2022]. It was positively a particular match for the each of us.
Taking part in him, beating him on clay was additionally an ideal reminiscence, a particular reminiscence for me, as effectively. Additionally provided that the 12 months earlier than I had two or three match factors towards him and I misplaced that match. I feel he’s left a loopy imprint on the sport of tennis. I keep in mind watching him once I was only a child, cleansing up all of the tournaments, successful a lot. It’s positively loopy what he’s been in a position to obtain. I feel not only for a tennis participant however for any athlete, it’s insane. It’s positively very particular.”
If Canada beats Germany and Spain defeats the Netherlands on Tuesday, the 2 nations would meet within the semifinals of the Davis Cup. Nevertheless, since Shapovalov is the Canadian No. 1, he couldn’t play Nadal in singles.
CLICK HERE for every part that you must know concerning the 2024 Davis Cup Finals.
Viewers can watch Staff Canada’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals and Davis Cup Last 8 ties without cost on CBC Gem, cbcsports.ca, the CBC Sports activities app, and CBC Sports activities’ official YouTube channel. The ties may even be out there in French, as TVA Sports activities and TVA Sports activities Direct shall be displaying Canada’s matchups, in addition to all semifinals and finals.
