By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday November 19, 2019
Team Canada became the first team to qualify for the last eight at Davis Cup Madrid on Tuesday
Photo Source: Getty.
Canada backed up a big win against Italy on Monday with another on Tuesday as Denis Shapovalov and Vasek Pospisil knocked off team USA for the first time ever in the nation’s first meeting since 1965.
The United States had won all 15 of its previous meetings with Canada but on Tuesday Vasek Pospisil knocked off Reilly Opelka 7-6 7-6 while Denis Shapovalov took out Taylor Fritz 7-6 6-3.
Canada is the first team to make it into the eight-team knockout phase set for this weekend in Madrid.
The 18 teams in this year's Davis Cup Finals are competing in six round-robin groups of three teams. The six group winners plus the two second-placed teams with the best records based on sets and games won will qualify for the quarter-finals.
"It's amazing, honestly it's just such an honor to play for my country, represent it. I think the whole team is putting such an amazing effort. The fans are spectacular, it's not just me, it's the whole team and everyone around us," said the 15th-ranked Shapovalov, according to DavisCup.com.
In other action on Tuesday evening, Australia took out Colombia thanks to wins from Nick Kyrgios and Alex de Minaur.
Argentina defeated Chile, 3-0, Kazakhstan knocked off the Netherlands, 3-2 and France topped Japan 2-1.
Spain and Russia were deadlocked at one apiece after Rafael Nadal defeated Karen Khachanov in straight sets.