FIVE-time Davis Cup champion Spain has moved through to face Canada for the 2019 title after downing Great Britain in the semi-finals. The North American nation will be vying for its first-ever title after downing Russia 2-1 in the other semi-final. Both nations are yet to lose a tie at the Davis Cup Finals this year and go in as the two strongest sides across the board.

CANADA 2 defeated RUSSIA 1

Andrey Rublev (RUS) defeated Vasek Pospisil (CAN) 6-4 6-4
Denis Shapovalov (CAN) defeated Karen Khachanov (RUS) 6-4 4-6 6-4
V. Pospisil/D. Shapovalov (CAN) defeated K. Khachanov/A. Rublev (RUS) 6-3 3-6 7-6

Canada became the first nation through to the Davis Cup decider with a tight 2-1 victory over tournament underdogs, Russia. The Russians had defied expectations to well and truly put i a great contest throughout the tournament, but their run came to an end of a three set doubles. Andrey Rublev gave the Russians hope early by downing the in-form Vasek Pospisil for the Canadian’s first loss of the tournament, before Denis Shapovalov bounced back from his defeat to Australia’s Alex de Minaur to post a three set win over Karen Khachanov. Both teams used their singles players in the doubles as they had all tournament and it took a third set tiebreaker to split them, with the Canadian pair of Pospisil and Shapovalov getting up 6-3 3-6 7-6 in the final.

SPAIN 2 defeated GREAT BRITAIN 1

Kyle Edmund (GBR) defeated Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 6-3 7-6
Rafael Nadal (ESP) defeated Daniel Evans (GBR) 6-4 6-0
F. Lopez/R. Nadal (ESP) defeated J. Murray/N. Skupski (GBR) 7-6 7-6

Meeting Canada in the final, a Rafael Nadal-lead Spain paved its path through with a 2-1 tie victory over Great Britain. Still opting for the Kyle Edmund and Daniel Evans singles duo, Edmund got the British side off to a strong start with a 6-3 7-6 win over Feliciano Lopez who was called in to replace Roberto Bautista Agut in that singles rubber. Evans was no match for the world number one Nadal who skipped through a 6-4 6-0 match to level the scores. As he has on a number of occasions, Nadal was called up to play doubles, this time with Lopez rather than Marcel Granollers, and they remarkably got the job done against specialist doubles pairing, Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski. The 7-6 7-6 win meant Spain qualified for the final match of the year to try and win yet another Davis Cup against emerging nation Canada.