Lorenzo Sonego outlasts Shapovalov in Davis Cup semis, giving Italy early lead | CBC Sports

Lorenzo Sonego overcame Denis Shapovalov 7-6(4) 6-7(5) 6-4 in a marathon encounter to give Italy a 1-0 lead over Canada in their Davis Cup semifinal clash in Malaga, Spain on Saturday, as the 1976 winners took a step closer to a final against Australia.

Sonego made a sluggish start but battled back from an early break deficit after finding his groove on serve again to capture the opening set in the tiebreak when an error prone Shapovalov sent a forehand long.

World No. 45 Sonego, who lost in three sets to Shapovalov when the pair last met at Rome earlier this year, saved five set points to hold for 5-5 and took the second set into a tiebreak, but spurned several opportunities to close out the contest.

With the match crossing the three-hour mark, he took his play up a notch to take a decisive break in the final game and send the Italian fans in the crowd wild.

WATCH | Sonego avenges loss to Shapovalov in Rome earlier this year:

Davis Cup double faults sink Shapovalov despite solid performance

Canada goes down 0-1 at the Davis Cup after Denis Shapovalov’s third set serving issues overshadowed his many highlight reel shots.

Italy, without the injured Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini, can reach its first final in the prestigious men’s team competition since 1998 if Lorenzo Musetti gets past Felix Auger-Aliassime of Montreal in the second singles rubber.

Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini, the architects of Italy’s stunning 2-1 quarter-final win over the United States, are scheduled to face Vasek Pospisil and Shapovalov should the tie go to a deciding doubles match.

On Friday, Australia reached the Davis Cup final for the first time in 19 years after a 2-1 win over Croatia. The final is scheduled for Sunday.

WATCH | Pospisil, Shapovalov, Pospisil help Canada to Davis Cup semis:

Pospisil and Shapovalov send Canada through to semis of the Davis Cup Finals

Vasek Pospisil and Denis Shapovalov beat Germany’s Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the deciding doubles match of the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, Spain. Canada will face Italy in the semifinals on Saturday.