Lorenzo Sonego overcame Denis Shapovalov 7-6(4) 6-7(5) 6-4 in a marathon encounter to offer Italy a 1-0 lead over Canada of their Davis Cup semi-final conflict in Malaga, Spain on Saturday, because the 1976 winners took a step nearer to a remaining in opposition to Australia.
Sonego made a sluggish begin however battled again from an early break deficit after discovering his groove on serve once more to seize the opening set within the tiebreak when an error-prone Shapovalov despatched a forehand lengthy.
World quantity 45 Sonego, who misplaced in three units to Shapovalov when the pair final met at Rome earlier this yr, saved 5 set factors to carry for 5-5 and took the second set right into a tiebreak, however spurned a number of alternatives to shut out the competition. With the match crossing the three-hour mark, Sonego switched on the after-burners to seize a decisive break within the remaining sport and ship the Italian followers within the crowd wild.
Italy, who’re with out the injured Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini, can attain their first remaining within the prestigious males’s workforce competitors since 1998 if Lorenzo Musetti will get previous Felix Auger-Aliassime within the second singles rubber.
Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini the architects of Italy’s beautiful 2-1 quarter-final win over the US are scheduled to face Vasek Pospisil and Shapovalov ought to the tie go to a deciding doubles match. On Friday, Australia reached the Davis Cup remaining for the primary time in 19 years after a 2-1 win over Croatia. The ultimate is scheduled to be performed on Sunday.