That’s all from me today at the end of another tennis season. Thanks for following all the tennis coverage throughout the year. After an exhausting, endless eleven month season, it all begins again in five weeks.
Here is Kevin Mitchell’s final report after a very eventful first Davis Cup Finals in Madrid. It was dramatic and entertaining, among many other things. There is plenty to think about going into 2020.
Spanish Davis Cup captain Sergi Bruguera:
Can you imagine? Yesterday, Roberto was in the funeral of his father and now he’s giving everything... I have no idea how to describe this with words..
He also noted that the Spanish team didn’t go to sleep before 3am. What an exhausting week.
Rafael Nadal after Spain’s sixth Davis Cup title:
Have been an amazing week. A lot of things we went through: [the] father of Roberto passed away. Marcel [Granollers] stayed stiff with the lower back and he couldn’t move. Pablo got injured in the singles. We went through a lot.
I could not be happier. Have been unforgettable moments in this amazing stadium. The crowd was just a joke. We can’t thank them enough. Our team spirit prevailed, we fighted hard.
Nadal ends the 2019 season as the oldest ever ATP year end number one at 33 and with titles at Roland Garros, the US Open, Rome, Montreal and the Davis Cup. He has had many incredible seasons, but given his age, this one easily ranks as one of the best. Nobody, including the man himself, expected him to be competing at this level after so long considering how physical his brand of tennis is. It’s a reflection of his perseverance but also of how efficient he has become over the years. He is no longer the blindingly fast claycourter playing from 10 feet behind the baseline. He drove Spain to the title by serving exceptionally, being consistently aggressive, moving forward to the net whenever he could and showing that he is also a phenomenal doubles player.
All credit to Roberto Bautista Agut who lost his father three days ago, left the team to be with his family and then returned to help his team win. No doubt he found solace in the most familiar place in the world for him - the tennis court.
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All credit to Denis Shapovalov for playing about as well as he can throughout that second set and then finding an incredible second wind with the championship on the line. However, Nadal has been incredible throughout this week in both singles and doubles and you just knew that he would find a way to win the important points and secure the win. The Spaniard is well known for his intensity but it’s hard to remember him as intense and pumped up from the first point onwards, as he has been throughout the week. This tournament has been another reminder that although the 33 year old is one of the greatest individual athletes in history, he is also a great team player. Just impressive.
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Spain win the Davis Cup 2-0 over Canada!
Rafael Nadal defeats Denis Shapovalov 6-3 7-6(7). Another clutch performance to end an astonishing week from the best player in the world.
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Denis Shapovalov 3-6 6-6 (*7-8) Rafael Nadal (CAN 0-1 ESP). Nadal eradicates the set point with a big crosscourt forehand winner, then another big first serve brings up championship point number three.
Denis Shapovalov 3-6 6-6 (7-6*) Rafael Nadal (CAN 0-1 ESP). A big serve from Shapovalov to bring up a set point.
Denis Shapovalov 3-6 6-6 (*6-6) Rafael Nadal (CAN 0-1 ESP). Nadal brought up match point with a big service winner, but an incredible passing shot by Shapovalov scuppered the first championship point! Shapovalov saved the second championship point with a bullet forehand winner after a short return from Nadal.
Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates after winning the Davis Cup for Spain. Photograph: Gabriel Bouys/AFP via Getty Images
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Denis Shapovalov 3-6 6-6 (4-5*) Rafael Nadal (CAN 0-1 ESP). Nadal gets the first mini break after a great return elicits a shanked backhand error from the Canadian. Two serves away...
Denis Shapovalov 3-6 6-6 (3-3*) Rafael Nadal (CAN 0-1 ESP). Both players are level at the break. That was a nervous start from Nadal with two forehand errors to fall down *0-2. Nadal responded with a drive volley winner and then a Shapovalov forehand flew long. Shapovalov struck a big ace for 3-2*, then Nadal levelled by chasing the net and forcing an error from the Canadian.
Denis Shapovalov 3-6 6-6 Rafael Nadal (CAN 0-1 ESP). We’re heading to a tiebreak, but Shapovalov will count that as an opportunity missed. From 30-0, he dragged Nadal to 30-30 after a sublime backhand down the line return winner and then an astonishing backhand down the line passing shot at full stretch. But at 30-30, he dumped a weak backhand into the net. Nadal slammed down an overhead on game point to take us into a tiebreak. Can the Canadian keep up this level in the tiebreak?
Denis Shapovalov 3-6 6-5* Rafael Nadal (CAN 0-1 ESP). Shapovalov has guaranteed himself at least a tiebreak and it has been a sublime effort. He has played incredibly well in this set and Nadal has struggled with his increased first serve percentage. After a limp missed forehand return from Nadal, the Canadian holds to 30. He now has a free swing at Nadal’s serve. Let’s see what he can do.
Denis Shapovalov 3-6 *5-5 Rafael Nadal (CAN 0-1 ESP). Holding serve is a challenge for both players right now but Nadal digs out a great hold with the set on the line. From 15-30 down, Nadal found a great unreturned serve. At 30-30 he produced some astonishingly soft hands after serve and volleying, delicately stroking a half-volley drop shot winner. After a wide Shapovalov backhand error, the Spaniard holds. A tiebreak seems to be on the horizon.
Denis Shapovalov 3-6 5-4* Rafael Nadal (CAN 0-1 ESP). Shapovalov holds, but not before weathering another storm as the 11,000 people around him cheer for his demise. This time, he had to save break point after the Spaniard produced an astonishing down the line forehand passing shot. But Shapovalov is here to play. He saved break point with with a huge forehand winner, then he found an ace at deuce. He dismounted with a booming forehand down the line winner. This has been an excellent set of tennis.
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Denis Shapovalov 3-6 *4-4 Rafael Nadal (CAN 0-1 ESP). A much simpler service game from Nadal who breezes through a hold to 15 with a big unreturned serve. Big serving and big forehands from the Spaniard. The pressure returns to the Canadian’s shoulders.
At 6-3 3*-4, Rafael Nadal has now held his last 65 service games ( Last broken by Medvedev in 3rd set London RR )
— Steph Trudel (@TrudelSteph) November 24, 2019
Denis Shapovalov 3-6 4-3* Rafael Nadal (CAN 0-1 ESP). After the early struggles, Shapovalov is beginning to grow in confidence. After being pegged back from 30-0 to 30-30, the Canadian came up with two beautiful volleys in successive points to hold. He continues to attack and move forward whenever he can and these fast conditions are helping him.
Denis Shapovalov 3-6 *3-3 Rafael Nadal (CAN 0-1 ESP). Nadal faces his first break point of the day and saves it to keep himself level. That was an immense effort from Shapovalov, who is now playing his best tennis of the match. He is taking the ball early, throwing everything he can at Nadal and making far fewer errors.
With Nadal at 40-30, Shapovalov responded with an incredible angled crosscourt backhand at full sprint. At deuce, Shapovalov demolished the ball and moved forward to the net, but Nadal found a brilliant backhand crosscourt return winner to bring up a game point. Shapovalov produced a huge forehand on game point and then a missed forehand from Nadal brought up break point
How did Nadal respond to the break point? The Spaniard landed a huge service winner on break point and then dispatched two huge forehands to hold. Cold blooded.
Denis Shapovalov 3-6 3-2* Rafael Nadal (CAN 0-1 ESP). This is just extremely difficult. As Nadal moves through most of his holds with ease, Shapovalov has to fight for everything. This time, he dug out a great hold from 0-30 down. Particularly impressive work from Shapovalov at 30-30: he crushed a couple of crosscourt forehands before moving into the net and finishing the point with a delicate dropshot. He held with a big unreturned serve out wide.
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Denis Shapovalov 3-6 *2-2 Rafael Nadal (CAN 0-1 ESP). After the struggles in his opening service game of the second set, Nadal holds to love with a wicked forehand winner. More great serving from the Spaniard and another serve and volley thrown in. Easy.
Denis Shapovalov 3-6 2-1* Rafael Nadal (CAN 0-1 ESP). Shapovalov keeps himself ahead in the second set, but it required more saved break points and more fight after a wayward forehand from the Canadian at 30-30 brought up break point. He saved the break point with a brilliant wide serve, but Nadal immediately responded with a brilliant forehand passing shot.
The Canadian did not reach this stage without courage. Despite being passed in the previous point, he came forward again down break point and forced Nadal to make another passing shot. This time, he dumped his forehand into the net. Shapovalov found two big serves to seal the hold.
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Denis Shapovalov 3-6 *1-1 Rafael Nadal (CAN 0-1 ESP). Nadal holds, but that was tough. Shapovalov was finally able to get into a Nadal service game as the Spaniard’s level dipped.
From 40-30, a missed forehand dragged Nadal to his first deuce. He responded with a brilliant serve and volley to bring up a second game point. Shapovalov pulled him back to deuce with a couple of brilliant point-ending forehands, but Nadal found an ace and then an unreturned serve out wide. The Canadian did absolutely nothing wrong there. Nadal was just too clutch.
Second set: Denis Shapovalov 3-6 1-0* Rafael Nadal (CAN 0-1 ESP). This isn’t getting any easier for Shapovalov, but he edges out a hold to open the second set. The Canadian immediately faced a tense 30-30 point on serve. Nadal attempted to throw in a few slices and the Canadian came up with his most delightful shot of the day in response - a sweet dropshot from far behind the baseline. He held with a nice, sliding unreturned second serve. The youngster is pumped.
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Denis Shapovalov 3-6 Rafael Nadal (CAN 0-1 ESP). Nadal takes the first set with a huge unreturned serve. He is serving about as well as he ever has and putting pressure on the Canadian in nearly every return game. The youngster just has to serve better and hope that the Spaniard’s level falls a little. We’ll see if it does.
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A good question from Ian that I have no answer to:
Why do the players always take the head gear off immediately the match ends? It’s like a ritual before they can shake hands at the net. The opposite happens at the end of a cycle race when the top gets zipped up so the sponsorship can be clearly seen.
Denis Shapovalov 3-5* Rafael Nadal (CAN 0-1 ESP). Shapovalov finally gets his first quick game of the day, sealed to love with a big 211kmh ace at 30-0 and then another big unreturned serve at 40-0. Nadal will serve for the set after just 32 minutes.
Denis Shapovalov *2-5 Rafael Nadal (CAN 0-1 ESP). Nadal consolidates his break with another quick hold, this time to love. He finished with a touch of variety, throwing in a serve and volley and clinching the game with a great backhand volley. Nadal has played this set with incredible intensity and he is one game away from taking it.
Denis Shapovalov 2-4* Rafael Nadal (CAN 0-1 ESP). Shapovalov’s first serve percentage dropped just a little and Nadal immediately pounced. At 30-30, the Canadian buried an awesome backhand down the line, which the Spaniard easily tracked down and immediately flipped defence to attack with an incredible crosscourt forehand. Finally, Shapovalov sent a forehand wide to relinquish the break.
Nadal celebrated the break by screaming at the top of his lungs once again. I can’t remember seeing him so pumped up just 6 games into a match.
Denis Shapovalov *2-3 Rafael Nadal (CAN 0-1 ESP). As Shapovalov produces incredible shots just to hold serve, Nadal continues to roll through his own service games. He is serving huge and dismissing any short balls with his forehand. Another big unreturned serve to hold.
Denis Shapovalov 2-2* Rafael Nadal (CAN 0-1 ESP). Once again, Shapovalov faces break point under immense pressure from a Nadal who is already finding great length and crushing any short forehand. How did he respond? Shapovalov found with a huge ace down the T at 30-40, then he hit a glorious drop volley. He held by demolishing a forehand down the line for a clear winner.
He is already having to come up with incredible shots just to win points, but he is so far doing so.
Denis Shapovalov *1-2 Rafael Nadal (CAN 0-1 ESP). Both players are absolutely obliterating the ball early on and also making so much noise after each victorious point. Shapovalov opened the game with a nuclear forehand down the line at full sprint, Nadal responded by picking off a volley at the net before screaming “vamos”. After a big crosscourt forehand winner at 30-15 and a huge unreturned serve at 40-15, Nadal holds again with ease.
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Denis Shapovalov 1-1* Rafael Nadal (CAN 0-1 ESP). Nadal is already putting on the pressure on Shapovalov by returning well and keeping immaculate depth on his groundstrokes in the early exchanges. He quickly brings up break point at 30-40, but Shapovalov saved the break point with an excellent swinging wide serve then a booming backhand, picking off the short ball at the net. After a big serve at deuce, he held with a huge forehand after a big serve. That is an extremely good hold.
Denis Shapovalov *0-1 Rafael Nadal (CAN 0-1 ESP). Nadal slams down an unreturned serve to depart from his first service game with an easy love hold. Nadal still hasn’t lost his serve all week in singles or doubles. Shapovalov got his first glimpse of how tough that will be.
The players are out on court. Shapovalov will almost certainly enter the stadium believing that he can win. After all, the Canadian’s big breakthrough match was his 3-6 6-4 7-6(4) win over Nadal to reach the semi-finals at home in Montreal two years ago. He is probably in the best, most consistent form of his career so far after winning his first title in Stockholm and then reaching the Paris Masters final last month.
Shapovalov has arguably the biggest game of all the youngsters and it seems clear that he is simply going to have to play at his very highest level just to have a chance against a Nadal competing at such a high level. He will need to serve extremely well, limit his double faults, keep points short, take his huge forehand to Nadal and use these fast conditions to his favour. It is all easier said than done.
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Emotional scenes inside the stadium as Bautista Agut addressed the crowd in Spanish.
Not many dry eyes in the stadium as RBA is talking. pic.twitter.com/52soJpFZrZ
— Del (@Stroppa_Del) November 24, 2019
Needless to say, that win for Bautista Agut was likely a huge tipping point in the tie. For much of this week, Nadal has had to dig Spain out from 0-1 deficits before dragging his team over the line in doubles and he has played some incredible tennis throughout. In order to keep Canada in the tie, 20 year old Shapovalov has to defeat the best player in the world at his very best. It doesn’t get much tougher than that.
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Roberto Bautista Agut after the match:
It was very special, very special feeling on the court today. I could just go out on the court and give my best. I’m very happy that I could win the first point for Spain.
The only stat that matters: 18 unforced errors for Roberto Bautista Agut, 45 unforced errors for Felix Auger Aliassime.
ESP 1-0 CAN. Roberto Bautista Agut defeats Felix Auger Aliassime 7-6(3) 6-3
Roberto Bautista Agut seals off one of the biggest wins of his career with a love hold. What a moment and what fortitude from the Spaniard after such a testing week. Chants of “Roberto!” rang across the crowd as he jumped into the arms of his teammates.
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Second set: Felix Auger Aliassime 6-7(3) 3-5* Roberto Bautista Agut. Auger Aliassine finds a hold and forces the Spaniard to serve it all out, but even that was so tough. The Canadian sped to a 40-15 lead and looked well en route to a confident hold, but then he double faulted badly and sprayed backhand down the line well wide. Bautista offered him another bite at a hold with a rare forehand error of his own at deuce, but the Canadian shanked another forehand on game point well wide.
For all his struggles today, Auger Aliassime has battled for every single point. At deuce, he swept into the net behind an inside out forehand and he found a good serve to hold. Let’s see if Bautista Agut can hold his nerve at the end.
Second set: Felix Auger Aliassime 6-7(3) *2-5 Roberto Bautista Agut. Auger Aliassime continues to fight and he dragged Bautista Agut to 30-30 on his serve with a great combination of forehands in a long return game. But the Spaniard responded to the pressure with a big unreturned serve. The Canadian swung for the fences again at game point, but his forehand flew well long. The Spaniard is now one game away and he is roaring “vamos” after every last victorious point. He is so close to a crucial win and he knows it.
Second set: Felix Auger Aliassime 6-7(3) 2-4* Roberto Bautista Agut. Bautista breaks again! That did not last very long. Bautista Agut restored the break with his best return game of the match. In particular, a brilliant crosscourt forehand passing shot from the Spaniard moved him up 0-30 and excellent returning throughout. The Canadian blasted a forehand well long on the first break point to relinquish the break.
Second set: Felix Auger Aliassime 6-7(3) *2-3 Roberto Bautista Agut. Auger Aliassime breaks back! The Spaniard may have been up a break but he never really played like a player on the front foot and he gifted too many uncharacteristic errors to the Canadian. A forehand error and a double fault from the Spaniard brought up break point. He saved the first with a neat forehand dropshot, but on the second point the Canadian blasted a forehand down the line winner. The linesperson called the ball out, but hawkeye overruled. We’re back on serve.
Second set: Felix Auger Aliassime 6-7(3) 1-3* Roberto Bautista Agut. The Canadian secures a crucial hold, but he is living so dangerously right now. From 30-15, he sprayed another forehand well long before double faulting under pressure at 30-30. But he responded really well, saving the break point with a big first serve and then striking a violent inside out forehand winner at deuce.
He held with a big unreturned serve and a booming ‘c’mon’. His second serve may be edgy and his forehand may be leaking but there’s no doubt that this 19 year old is going to fight. Great hold.
Since the tiebreak, things have been quite ugly on that forehand wing.
Felix forehand has become a liability in the last 30 minutes. Has set up several points beautifully and then failed to finish. RBA on the brink
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) November 24, 2019
Second set: Felix Auger Aliassime 6-7(3) *0-3 Roberto Bautista Agut. Just as it looked like Bautista Agut was beginning to separate himself from Auger Aliassime at 40-15, he suddenly found himself facing a break point. From double game point up, the Spaniard framed a forehand out and then watched as Auger Aliassime crushed a forehand down the line after a fortunate net cord. At deuce then Bautista Agut sent a bad drive volley flying out.
A huge, unexpected opportunity for the youngster to get back on track and it seems like the pressure just got to him. From break point up, Auger Aliassime hit three quite horrendous forehand errors in succession. The opportunity disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Second set: Felix Auger Aliassime 6-7(3) 0-2* Roberto Bautista Agut. Bautista Agut breaks! Sadly for the Canadian, his game is beginning to come apart at the seams. After being dragged to deuce, he double faulted on two consecutive deuce points to offer up break points. He saved the first break point with a big overhead and the second by forcing an error with a wicked crosscourt forehand, but the nerves were written across his face. On the third break point Canadian sent a short forehand well long. He will continue to fight but it’s a long road back from here.
Second set: Felix Auger Aliassime 6-7(3) *0-1 Roberto Bautista Agut: Bautista Agut continues to apply the pressure, holding to 15 with ease. Quite an astonishing point at 30-15, with the Spaniard retrieving an overhead from Auger Aliassime and throwing up a defensive lob. The Canadian seemed to think the lob was floating out and he could only respond to the lob with a limp forehand before eventually shanking the ball out. He finished the game with a small shake of his head. Across the net, Bautista Agut looks ready for anything.
Roberto Bautista Agut hit only two groundstroke winners in that entire set in fast conditions, but that’s just what he does. He ground the youngster down and he was rock solid when it really mattered in the tiebreak. The crowd finished the set chanting “ole, ole, ole” for the world to hear. Let’s see if Auger Aliassime can respond in this set.
First set: Felix Auger Aliassime 6-7(3) Roberto Bautista Agut! Bautista Agut takes the first set! After the break, he just tore away from the Canadian. He took the first mini-break with a huge crosscourt backhand return, forcing a backhand error from the youngster. Auger Aliassime responded with a wild inside out forehand wide. The Canadian panicked on his final forehand, sending it wide to relinquish the set.
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First set: Felix Auger Aliassime 6-6 (3-3*) Roberto Bautista Agut: There is absolutely nothing separating the two at the break. A gorgeous forehand dropshot from Bautista Agut to lead 2-1, to which Auger Aliassime responded with a pair of vicious forehands, moving the Spaniard from side to side until he forced a backhand error. Auger Aliassime moved up 3-2 with a curling wide ace. The Spaniard levelled the tiebreak with huge inside-out forehand behind a big serve.
First set: Felix Auger Aliassime 6-6 Roberto Bautista Agut: Aside from the one tight game on Bautista Agut’s serve at 4-4, this set has been a server’s dream. Just ten points lost between them on serve. As Auger Aliassime dumps a backhand into the net, we are off to a tiebreak.
Some epic rallies so far between Felix and Bautista. They're two of the best movers on tour, and no sign of any issues with Felix's ankle. He's handled the occasion very well so far as well. This could be a long one.
— Eleanor Crooks (@EleanorcrooksPA) November 24, 2019
First set: Felix Auger Aliassime 6-5* Roberto Bautista Agut: Auger Aliassime has served really well and executed his first forehand behind the serve so well, burying most short balls with conviction. He strings together another love hold, closing it off with a big unreturned serve out wide.
First set: Felix Auger Aliassime *5-5 Roberto Bautista Agut: A much-needed quick hold for Bautista Agut after wrestling with break point in his previous service game. Some great serving from the Spaniard and he finished with a big crosscourt forehand behind a big serve. We’re not too far from a tiebreak now.
First set: Felix Auger Aliassime 5-4* Roberto Bautista Agut: The youngster has really found his way on serve. He slammed down his third ace to reach triple game point and eventually held to 15 by forcing a Bautista Agut backhand error after a frantic rally.
The youngster continues to win plenty of these long exchanges against one of the most consistent players around and he should take a lot of heart from that.
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First set: Felix Auger Aliassime *4-4 Roberto Bautista Agut: Auger Aliassime hadn’t won a single return point after three return games, but in the fourth game he did so with aplomb, picking off a great overhead for a 15-30 lead. The Spaniard responded with an unreturned serve, but at 30-30 Auger-Aliassime came up with a brilliant forehand down the line passing shot to bring up break point.
How did Bautista Agut respond? He slammed down a big unreturned serve to save the break point. It took Bautista Agut a couple of game points, but on the third deuce he connected with an incredible crosscourt forehand off a low slice. He finally scuppered the danger on his third game point by grinding Auger Aliassime down with some brutal, flat hitting, until the Canadian dumped a backhand into the net. The crowd roared, Feliciano Lopez thumped his chest. A brilliant hold.
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First set: Felix Auger Aliassime 4-3* Roberto Bautista Agut: Auger Aliassime has found a nice rhythm on his serve and he puts together a second consecutive love hold, sealed with a big unreturned serve down the T. Conditions are so fast at Madrid’s altitude which means that dominant serving is to be expected.
First set: Felix Auger Aliassime *3-3 Roberto Bautista Agut: For all his great work in his service games, Auger Aliassime is spraying a few too many errors on return. Bautista Agut picks up a third love hold to level the match after a series of forehand errors from Auger Aliassime. The Spaniard still hasn’t dropped a point on his serve and the pressure returns to the youngster.
First set: Felix Auger Aliassime 3-2* Roberto Bautista Agut: The most impressive aspect of Auger Aliassime’s breakthrough year has been his performances on clay and slower surfaces this year. He is putting those lessons into action against the defence of Bautista Agut in these long rallies today. He won another long rally at 15-0, ending the point with a wicked crosscourt forehand. From 30-0, he finished with a great backhand down the line winner followed by a big ace down the T.
First set: Felix Auger Aliassime *2-2 Roberto Bautista Agut: The Spaniard levels the set with another great love hold, sealed with a big unreturned serve. Before that, Auger Aliassime offered up three consecutive backhand errors to bring up 40-0. Too many gifts from the youngster.
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First set: Felix Auger Aliassime 2-1* Roberto Bautista Agut: A pumped up Auger Aliassime digs out a brilliant hold from 0-30 down, his confidence building. The Spaniard opened with a brilliant crosscourt forehand return, forcing an error from the Canadian. A missed forehand from Auger-Aliassime brought up 0-30 and a loud “vamos!”
The youngster responded well, winning a long physical rally with an inside out forehand winner to level the game at 30-30. Then at 30-30, Auger-Aliassime came up with the rally of the match, grinding out a forehand error after the longest point of all. He held with a big unreturned serve.
These rallies are already long and they should suit the Spaniard. He will not be happy about that missed opportunity.
First set: Felix Auger Aliassime *1-1 Roberto Bautista Agut: The Spaniard responds with a solid hold of his own. The rallies are already longer on Bautista’s serve and he is already showing his consistency, grinding a few forehand errors out of the Canadian. At 40-0, he slammed down an ace out wide to hold to love. Both players are off to a good start.
First set: Felix Auger Aliassime 1-0* Roberto Bautista Agut: Auger-Aliassime opened with a huge forehand down the line winner, then a he swept into the net and picked off a sweeet volley. After reaching 40-0, he double faulted and then shanked a forehand well long. But at 40-0, he slammed down an ace down the T.
Plenty of conviction from the Canadian, but also some nerves. A good start.
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So, who will win this first rubber? Auger-Aliassime and Bautista Agut have never faced each other. The Spaniard is enjoying the best season of his career and he currently sits at his best ranking of 9. Bautista is such a unique player with extremely flat groundstrokes that almost never miss. His forehand is one of the best around and he backs it up with great movement and return. However, the Spaniard’s Davis Cup record isn’t the best. His Davis Cup record is just 7-6 and he has lost a few significant matches over the years, including earlier in the week against Andrey Rublev.
This has been an incredible breakout year for Auger-Aliassime, who reached the top 20 earlier this year and reached his first Masters 1000 semi-final in March. The tennis season is so gruelling and he seemed to run out of gas in the final weeks. The Canadian will have to serve extremely well and control the match with his forehand, or else the Spaniard will break him down.
This match comes with many more intangibles than a regular event. Auger-Aliassime has never competed under this amount of pressure before and he comes in undercooked. He hasn’t played since early October after injuring his ankle and this is just his third Davis Cup match (his record is 1-1).
For Bautista, this has clearly been a devastating week after his father passed away. He will be seeking solace at home on the tennis court.
Roberto Bautista-Agut before the final:
“It’s gonna be amazing to play the final with our crowd. Happy with the situation of the team, happy about the effort of my teammates and hope to enjoy the final. If we can, we will take the win.”
The players are coming out. Felix Auger-Aliassime in his pre-match interview:
“It’s unbelievable. It’s historic for my part. My ankle has been great for the past week. I’ve been on the sideline and ready to go all week.”
The new edition of the Davis Cup is partly run by Gerard Pique, so it should come as no surprise that Shakira is currently performing in the closing ceremony before the final. Play will begin shortly.
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Great Britain’s Davis Cup captain speaks.
This is our team both players and support staff behind us. Amazing people all of them and couldn’t be prouder to be part of this. We gave our best effort and left everything out there on the court. Fans and support have been amazing. Thank you 🙏 @the_LTA @DavisCupFinals 🇬🇧👊 pic.twitter.com/B0X10f3vMl
— Leon Smith (@LeonSmith) November 24, 2019
Will @felixtennis and @denis_shapo be dancing like it's 2015 come the end of the day?
— ITF (@ITF_Tennis) November 24, 2019
Throw🔙 to 4️⃣ years ago when they were triumphant in the Junior #DavisCup 🏆 pic.twitter.com/pT1nBnl7Gz
The nominations are and we have a big shock. 19 year-old Felix Auger-Aliassime has been drafted in for his very first match of the week, replacing Vasek Pospisil. Pospisil has been incredible for Canada this week, winning his first three singles matches and leading the doubles team, but he did look quite exhausted in his 6-4 6-4 loss to Andrey Rublev yesterday. He also hurt his shin after colliding with the net post in doubles.
Auger-Aliassime will face Roberto Bautista Agut who, as expected, will compete for the first time since his father passed away this week.
If needed, Pospisil will likely to return to the court for the doubles.
Nominations for the 🇨🇦-🇪🇸final
— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) November 24, 2019
Felix Auger-Aliassime v Roberto Bautista Agut
Shapovalov v Nadal
Pospisil/Shapovalov v Granollers/Lopez#DavisCupMadridFinals
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Preamble
Hello! Welcome to our coverage of the title match of the Davis Cup Finals in Madrid. After all the arguments and discussion about the new era of this historic competition, this has been some week. There have been organisational issues, matches finishing past 4am, half-empty stadiums and plenty of valid criticisms of this abbreviated format, but the biggest takeaway is that tennis is tennis regardless of where it is played. As long as the core scoring system remains intact and the players care enough to produce their best, this sport is always going to be exciting and desperately tense.
Few days of tennis this year have been as tense as yesterday’s semi-finals, where Canada recovered from 0-1 down to vanquish Russia. First Denis Shapovalov edged out a three set win over Karen Khachanov, then Shapovalov and Vasek Pospisil defeated Khachanov and Andrey Rublev in an excruciating third set tiebreak.
Last night’s tie between Great Britain and Spain produced three straight sets matches but somehow the stakes felt even higher, even more desperate, with Nadal almost single-handedly dragging Spain into the final. After Kyle Edmund’s solid win over Feliciano Lopez, Nadal blitzed Dan Evans and then carried a struggling Lopez into the final with an incredible win over Neal Skupski and Jamie Murray 7-6(3) 7-6(8). In a year that Nadal won two Grand slams and finished as the oldest ever ATP year end number one, few moments have impressed as much as the way he saved Great Britain’s set points in the second set tiebreak.
So, here we are. The Spanish team was decimated yesterday after Lopez was forced to step in following the tragic death of Roberto Bautista Agut’s father and injuries ruled out Pablo Carreno Busta and Marcel Granollers. We still await the official nominations but there are rumours that No 9 Bautista Agut, who returned to support his teammates yesterday from the bench, could return to the court today. The clear priority is his mental health, but if he does feel okay to play, it will clearly tip the scales heavily in Spain’s favour.
Across the net, Canada have played with only two players this week, Denis Shapovalov and Vasek Pospisil, and they have been spectacular. They will almost certainly rely on their two heroes again as they contest their first ever Davis Cup final. What a breakthrough year this has been for Canadian tennis, from their first ever Grand Slam champion in Bianca Andreescu to their rising stars on the ATP. A victory would be the perfect way to end it.
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