Madrid (AFP)
Italy led by its two strong men of the season, Fabio Fognini and Matteo Berrettini, lost their match against Canada, who won the singles on Monday in Madrid on the first day of the new Davis Cup formula.
The first to play, Fognini, dropped 7-6 (7/5), 7-5 to Vasek Pospisil.
In the second single, Denis Shapovalov fought tooth and nail to dominate Berrettini 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/5) in almost three hours.
Canada has taken the lead in Group F, which also includes the United States, and will try to improve its victory with the double for the qualification for shifts.
Since this year, the final phase of the Davis Cup brings together 18 separate teams in 6 groups of 3. The top 6 of each group and the 2 best runners-up, divided by the number of sets and games won, qualify for the quarter.
© 2019 AFP