Malaga, Spain, November 27, 2022 — Canada’s 109-year wait for a Davis Cup title is finally over. On Sunday, Team Canada presented by the Sobeys defeated Australia 2-0 in the 2022 Davis Cup championship match by Rakuten Finals to claim the nation’s first title at the prestigious international event.

Playing at Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena in Malaga, Spain, Félix Auger-Aliassime (Montréal, QC), Denis Shapovalov (Richmond Hill, ON), Vasek Pospisil (Vernon, BC), Alexis Galarneau (Laval, QC) , Gabriel Diallo (Montréal, QC), and team captain Frank Dancevic (Niagara Falls, ON) had a week to remember, beating Germany and Italy in tight 2-1 matches before sweeping Australia in the final.

“We are incredibly proud of the efforts our team, staff and fans have put into running this historic Davis Cup,” said Michael Downey, President & CEO of Tennis Canada. “After finishing second in 2019 – despite being our first place in the final – all we could think about was getting another chance to win a prestigious title. Today, we not only got that second chance, but we did it. Canadians can now call themselves world champions!

“We want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Félix, Denis, Vasek, Alexis, Gabriel and Frank for achieving something no other Canadian group has ever done,” Downey added. “Their energy and relentless work ethic is spectacular. We are honored to have a world-class team of athletes representing our country.”

Auger-Aliassime is unbeaten this week, racking up three wins in singles and winning a doubles singles match with Pospisil. Shapovalov finished the event with a 2-2 record (1-2 in singles and 1-0 in doubles), while veteran Team Canada Pospisil was a perfect 2-0 in both of his doubles appearances.

In today’s championship match, Shapovalov opened the scoring for Canada with a 6-2, 6-4 win over world number 95 Thanasi Kokkinakis. Shapovalov, who had lost both of his previous singles matches at the event, came out with some revenge against the Australian, dominating the contest from the start. She broke Kokkinakis twice to start the first set and rode that wave of momentum until the end. Shapovalov’s performance featured 23 winners and 10 unforced errors compared to his opponent’s eight errors and only five winners.

For the third match in a row, Auger-Aliassime played his second singles match and he didn’t miss a hit. He faced 24th-ranked Alex de Minaur and needed just one hour and 42 minutes to beat the 23-year-old from Sydney, Australia 6-3, 6-4. Auger-Aliassime gripped during the big moments, sparing eight break points he faced and converting two of his four break-point opportunities. He captured the title for Canada in his first championship point in the 10th game of the second set.

“The emotion is difficult to describe,” Auger-Aliassime said in a post-match interview. “We grew up together, dreaming of being on this stage, winning games like this, winning the Davis Cup. This is truly a dream come true. That’s what we play for. That’s what sports are for. It was a great moment for us and for the country.”

Canada now joins a list of 16 nations that have captured the coveted Davis Cup trophy. The trophy, which was donated by the competition’s founder Dwight Davis, has been presented to the Davis Cup winners since its inception in 1900 when only two countries – the United States and Great Britain – were part of the event. Today, with 138 nations registered to play, the Davis Cup has grown to become the world’s largest annual international team competition in the sport.

As well as capturing the 2022 Davis Cup title, Canada will automatically qualify for the 2023 Finals. They will be joined in the group stage – from September 11, 2023 – by finalists Australia, wild cards Italy and Spain, and the 12 nations that will win their 2023 qualifying matches.