MALAGA, Spain – Germany kept its hopes of winning the Davis Cup for the first time in 30 years alive by beating Canada in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Jan-Lennard Struff rallied to win the second singles match of the tie, defeating Denis Shapovalov 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(5). Daniel Altmaier gave Germany the lead with a 7-6(5), 6-4 win over Gabriel Diallo.
Germany will face the Netherlands next Friday for a place in the final. The Netherlands beat Spain 2-1 in a draw on Tuesday that marked Rafael Nadal’s retirement from professional tennis.
“It was very close. I was really happy I got over the line,” Struff said. “We are in the semi-finals now. I am very happy. Let’s look forward to Friday.”
The final two quarterfinals of the year feature the United States facing Australia and defending champion Italy facing Argentina. Both games are scheduled for Thursday.
Germany last reached the semifinals in 2021. The last of the three Davis Cup trophies was won in 1993. Canada’s only title came in 2022 when Struff defeated Shapovalov in three sets in the quarterfinal round.
“I’m very disappointed with the team. I feel like I let them down. I felt like I had the game in my hands and I felt like I had a lot of chances,” said Shapovalov, who had 27 aces and 13 double faults in Wednesday’s loss. “It’s definitely been difficult because it just got taken away from me.”
At first singles on Wednesday, Altmaier served 10 aces to Diallo’s nine. The German had just one double fault against six opponents.
“I haven’t played a Davis Cup match all year, so I’m really happy to be playing in such an important match to tie the score. [with] It’s the way I can handle it mentally,” Altmaier said.
Diallo said he’s not as “loose” as he’d like.
“It was very uneven,” Diallo said. “Some snippets, moments where I played well, moments where I was a little more sloppy. But sometimes that happens. Sometimes those moments get to you a little bit. Some moments got to me today, and I couldn’t find my rhythm and I couldn’t win. “I couldn’t find my stride.”
Both countries were without top-ranked players (No. 2 Alexander Zverev of Germany and No. 29 Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada).
