"We grew up together, in Canada, since the age of 7-8, dreaming of playing the biggest tournaments, winning this type of match and winning the Davis Cup", commented Auger-Aliassime (6th in the world) just after winning the point of victory by beating Alex de Minaur (24th) 6-3, 6-4.

Before him, Shapovalov (18th) had logically beaten Thanasi Kokkinakis (95th) 6-2, 6-4.

Canada have come a long way since they were eliminated 4-0 by the Netherlands in March in qualifying.

But the exclusion of Russia, holders of the title, because of the conflict in Ukraine, left a place: Serbia should have benefited from it, but having previously received an invitation for the final phase 2022, it is Canada which has been fished out.

The Canadians finished second in Group B behind Spain in September, before eliminating Germany in the quarter-finals (2-1) and Italy in the semis (2-1).

In the final, the doubles did not need to be played after Canada's clear wins in the singles.

"Great moment"

"It's really a great moment, for me and for the country," savored Auger-Aliassime.

Tennis player Felix Auger-Aliassime won Canada's inaugural Davis Cup against Australia on November 27, 2022 in Malaga, Spain.

Thomas COEX AFP

Finalists in 2019 in Madrid for the first edition of the new formula of national team competition, the Canadians had been beaten by Spain led by a Rafael Nadal on a mission.

This time, Canada became the sixteenth nation to win the Davis Cup.

In 2015, Canada had already won the Junior Davis Cup, already with FAA and Shapovalov.

“We are progressing from year to year, we are more and more ready for these difficult times. We have great memories together, in the Junior Davis Cup and we are happy to have managed to win the real one!”, underlined Auger - Alissim.

"Since the juniors, we dreamed of it... We saw Vasek (Pospisil), Milos (Raonic), Daniel (Nestor) play and we wanted to imitate them, to be part of the team. So today, it's unreal “, confirmed Shapovalov.

And for the men of captain Franck Dancevic, with in particular the veteran Vasek Pospisil who participated in his twelfth Davis Cup since 2008, this Silver Bowl crowns a prosperous year which began in January in Australia with the title in the ATP Cup, all young during organized by the ATP of the venerable competition of the International Federation (ITF).

On a personal level, Auger-Aliassime won a fifth title (including his first four on the ATP circuit, in Rotterdam, Florence, Antwerp and Basel) at the end of a season which saw him take his place in the court. very big ones.

At 22, FAA thus finished in 6th place in the world for a season that started in 11th place.

He even fell to 13th in September after his elimination in the second round of the US Open, before going on a series of sixteen victories and three titles in as many weeks which ended in the semi-finals at the Masters 1000 in Paris.

© 2022 AFP