Davis Cup: Germany Defeats Canada, Advances to Semis Against Netherlands

Germany, a three-time Davis Cup champion, advanced to the semi-finals with a 2-0 win over Canada on Wednesday.

In a thrilling match, Jan-Lennard Struff overcame Denis Shapovalov 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/5), avenging Germany’s loss to Canada in the 2022 quarter-finals. Earlier, Daniel Altmaier secured a victory over Gabriel Diallo, winning 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 in the first singles match, putting Germany ahead in the quarter-final tie.

Germany, whose last Davis Cup win was in 1993, will face the Netherlands in the semi-finals. The Netherlands reached this stage by defeating Spain, marking the end of Rafael Nadal’s illustrious 23-year career.

Struff remarked on the difficulty of his match, highlighting Shapovalov’s powerful serves and constant changes in direction. He acknowledged the challenge of maintaining composure on a fast court but expressed joy over reaching the semi-finals.

Shapovalov took the first set against Struff with a strong forehand winner and a crucial break in the 10th game. Despite struggling in the second set, Struff managed a critical break in the 11th game, pushing the match into a decisive third set.

The third set saw Shapovalov, known for his powerful serve, falter with multiple double faults. Struff capitalized on these errors, breaking Shapovalov’s serve for a 4-3 lead. Although Shapovalov broke back to level the set, his 13th double fault in the tie-break ultimately cost him the match and the tie for Canada.

In the opening singles match, world number 88 Altmaier established a 5-0 lead in the first set tie-break before winning it. He then overcame two break points in the second set’s first game and broke Diallo in the final game to clinch the victory.

Diallo expressed his disappointment, feeling he let his team down by not securing the point. Altmaier admitted to being extremely nervous before the match but found it helpful to openly communicate his anxiety with the captain.