Canada’s main man got the job done
Félix Auger-Aliassime killed off French hopes on Saturday in Quebec. The world No 5 beat Arthur Rinderknech 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 to seal Canada’s 3-1 Davis Cup qualifying win.
The Quebec native won both of his singles matches in three sets, though he was hardly flying out of the blocks. On Friday he had already had to dig in against Quentin Halys (7-6, 4-6, 6-3), after the shock win from team-mate Liam Draxl had put Canada on the front foot.
The numbers tell the story: 17 aces and 67 points won behind his first and second serves, from 86, a return of 77.9%. When the serve holds up and everything else wobbles, that’s the difference between a top-five player and just another decent Davis Cup hand.
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France had a real foothold
2-0 down after day one, the Bleus dragged themselves back in it through the doubles. Benjamin Bonzi and Pierre-Hugues Herbert beat Auger-Aliassime and Duncan Chan 7-6 (4), 6-3 for France’s only point of the weekend.
Rinderknech then had the Canadian on the ropes by taking the opening set. The second-set tie-break turned everything. Auger-Aliassime rescued his country after losing in the doubles a few hours earlier, the sort of twist that reminds you Davis Cup rarely cares about the rankings.
France will not be heading to the final stage. Canada are through to the quarter-finals.
Seven spots for Bologna
These qualifiers were played around the world this weekend. Seven teams will join Italy, the reigning champions, for the final stage in Bologna from 24 to 29 November.
The Czech Republic produced the biggest shock in Prague by coming from behind to beat the United States 3-2. Down after the doubles, they swept the two reverse singles, with Jakub Mensik overpowering Ben Shelton before Jiri Lehecka dismissed Learner Tien 6-3, 7-5.
Elsewhere, Austria beat Belgium 3-1 in Vienna thanks to Jurij Rodionov, the world No 142, who saw off Zizou Bergs. South Korea won 3-1 against India, Germany and Croatia were level at 1-1 after day one in Halle, while Great Britain and Spain led 2-0 against Ecuador and Chile.
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