MALAGA: Three-time Davis Cup winners Germany beat Canada 2-0 on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals where they will face the Netherlands.

Jan-Lennard Struff defeated Denis Shapovalov 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/5) to avenge Germany’s defeat in the 2022 quarter-finals by eventual victors Canada.

Daniel Altmaier beat Gabriel Diallo 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 in the opening singles rubber to send Germany ahead in the quarter-final clash.

Germany, who last won the competition in 1993, will face Netherlands in the final four after they defeated Spain to bring the curtain down on Rafael Nadal’s 23-year career.

“It was a very good, tough game, Shapa was firing his serves in, first serves and second serves... he was changing directions a lot, it was tough to read the serve,” said Struff.

“The court was pretty fast so it was tough to stay calm. I managed to stay in the game and in the set... We’re in the semis now, we’re very happy, let’s look forward to Friday.”

Shapovalov clinched the first set against Struff with a fine forehand winner with the only break in the 10th game.

Veteran Struff, world number 43, was up against the ropes for much of the second set but produced a break in the 11th game before holding to force a third set.

The big-serving Shapovalov committed several double faults, with one resulting in Struff breaking for a 4-3 lead in the third set, moments after the Canadian had smashed his racquet onto the floor in frustration for losing the previous point.

Shapovalov, ranked 56th, recovered to break for 5-5 as Struff faltered when serving for the match, leading to a tie-break.

However the Canadian lost the match and the tie for his country with his 13th double fault.

World number 88 Altmaier racked up a 5-0 lead in the first set tie-break against Diallo before closing it out to take the lead.

In the second set Altmaier survived two break points in the first game and then broke himself in the 10th and final game to triumph as Diallo crumbled.

“Playing in the finals is amazing, I haven’t played Davis Cup the whole year and I’m proud to help the team get the first victory. I think we are in a great position now,” Altmaier said on court.

“The mental side is crucial. It’s a huge motivation for me. My fighting spirit helped me to win the first set and then I was getting into a better rhythm.”

Published in Dawn, November 22th, 2024