With Canada just one match away from elimination in the Davis Cup World Group ties, the pressure is on for Denis Shapovalov.
The 18-year-old heads into a must-win match against Borna Coric after Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil were stunned in their doubles match Saturday.
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Nestor and Pospisil looked dominant from the start, taking an early two set lead against Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig. Up one break in the third, the Croatians got the first break of the set that proved to be a turning point.
Cilic and Dodig clawed back to take a 2-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 victory, giving Croatia a 2-1 lead in the first round of the World Group tie. Nestor and Pospisil double-faulted five times, with 17 forced errors ahead of Croatia's 13.
What a comeback! 🇭🇷 @cilic_marin & @DodigTennis fight back from 0-2 down to defeat 🇨🇦 Nestor & Pospisil 26 36 64 75 62 and Croatia takes the lead!
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) February 3, 2018
🇭🇷🆚🇨🇦 #DavisCup pic.twitter.com/qev5cvuNtv
Carrying Canada on his back, Shapovalov goes into his match against Coric with strong momentum behind him. The rising star took a straight-set victory on Friday over Viktor Galovic, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2, showcasing his best skills.
Using tactical shots and implementing a strong backhand, Shapovalov didn't surrender a break-point throughout the entire hour-and-50-minute match. It was a dominant rebound performance after his devastating second-round loss to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the Australian Open Jan. 17.
Shapovalov came through during his first match in Osijek when his team was down 1-0, and Canada will look to the youngest member of its Davis Cup team once again for survival through the first round of World Group ties.