Team Canada entered its Jan. 7 tie against Germany in need of a win to stay alive at the inaugural ATP Cup in Brisbane — and they got it in the doubles match.
Felix Auger-Aliassime dropped the first match of the tie against Jan-Lennard Struff in two sets Tuesday, 6-1, 6-4. Denis Shapovalov, the country's top men's singles player, faced down world No. 7 Alexander Zverev and defeated him, 6-4, 6-4, leaving the two to play Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies. They won that set 6-3, 7-6(4) to ensure Team Canada can remain alive in the 24-team competition.
Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov, who headline Team Canada at the ATP Cup, are now 2-1 with a 3-0 win against Greece, a 3-0 loss to host team Australia, and a 2-1 win over Germany.
ATP CUP: Canada defeats Greece | Auger-Aliassime, Shapovalov swept by Australia
The latest win gives Canada a potential opportunity to qualify for the quarterfinal round depending on how Wednesday's ties play out.
Here's how the action played out for Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov against Germany:
Felix Auger-Aliassime loses 6-1, 6-4 to Jan-Lennard Struff
Auger-Aliassime struggled to find consistency against Struff in a match that lasted one hour and 14 minutes. Struff broke the Canadian's serve in the match's third game and strolled to a 6-1 victory in the first set; he finished it off by serving a well-placed ace past Auger-Aliassime.
First set on the board for 🇩🇪 #TeamGermany with an ace from Struff - 6-1.#ATPCup | #GERCAN | #Brisbane pic.twitter.com/ajinZurC6d
— ATPCup (@ATPCup) January 7, 2020
In the second set, world No. 21 Auger-Aliassime played more competitively, but Struff held his serve from the third game onward and ultimately earned a 6-4 win to finish off the match. Struff, ranked No. 35 on the ATP Tour, converted on three of his seven break points throughout the match in comparison to Auger-Aliassime, who failed to convert his only chance.
Dennis Shapovalov defeats Alexander Zverev, 6-2, 6-2
Shapovalov took Zverev to task early in their match when he broke the German's serve in the very first game. Zverev served up seven double faults throughout the course of the match, allowing Shapovalov to take advantage and increase his record against the world No. 7 — he is currently ranked seven places higher than Shapovalov — to 2-2.
And that, kids, is why we you don't skip leg day 🏃♂️@denis_shapo #ATPCup | #Brisbane | #GERCAN pic.twitter.com/zMVVGRflRp
— ATPCup (@ATPCup) January 7, 2020
Shapovalov knocked 12 aces past Zverev throughout the match to put the German aside. Zverev won the fifth game, threatening to crawl his way back into the match, but could not fight his way through the 20-year-old Canadian's stellar play to keep his team alive.
Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov def. Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies, 6-3, 7-6(4)
Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov ultimately defeated Krawietz and Mies in the final battle to win the tie, 6-3, 7-6(4). The second set came to a tiebreaker, but the two Canadians pulled ahead and won in the end.
LET’S GO! 🇨🇦@felixtennis and @denis_shapo upset reigning French Open champions Krawietz/Mies 6-3, 7-6(4) to clinch a 2-1 victory over Germany at the @ATPCup.
— Tennis Canada (@TennisCanada) January 7, 2020
Brilliant teamwork, boys. 🤙 pic.twitter.com/ojH3MMEand
Here are the results Team Canada needs other teams to achieve if they are to advance to the quarterfinal stage of the tournament:
Canada hoping for the following results if they are to make it as one of the two 2nd place teams @ATPCup
— Michael Gallo (@Galloots) January 7, 2020
Spain over Japan 3-0 (if they don't win 3-0, Canada is out)
Russia over Norway
France/South Africa to not win 3-0
Poland over Austria
Croatia to not lose 3-0 vs Argentina