In Malaga, Spain on Saturday, Lorenzo Sonego overcame Denis Shapovalov 7-6(4) 6-7(5) 6-4 during a marathon encounter to offer Italy a 1-0 lead over Canada in their Davis Cup semi-final clash, because the 1976 winners took a step nearer to a final against Australia.
Sonego created a sluggish begin, however, battled back from an early break deficit once finding his groove on serve once more to capture the opening set within the tiebreak once an fallible Shapovalov sent a forehand long.
World number forty five Sonego, who lost in 3 sets to Shapovalov once the combine last met at Rome earlier this year, saved 5 set points to carry for 5-5 and took the second set into a tiebreak, however, declined many opportunities to shut out the competition.
With the match crossing the three-hour mark, Sonego switched on the after-burners to grab a decisive break within the final game and send the Italian fans within the crowd wild.
Italy, who are while not the harmed Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini, will reach their 1st final within the prestigious men’s team competition since 1998 if Lorenzo Musetti gets past Felix Auger-Aliassime within the second singles rubber.
