By Canadian Press

Canadian teenager Denis Shapovalov wins Davis Cup debut in straight sets

Sep 18, 2016 | 12:00 PM

HALIFAX — Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont., won his Davis Cup debut in straight sets on Sunday, topping Chile’s Christian Garin 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the third day of play between the two countries.

Frank Dancevic of Niagara Falls, Ont., followed that up with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Gonzalo Lama to complete Canada’s 5-0 sweep of Chile.

“It’s incredible to win, it was a lot of pressure knowing I was going to play today,” said Shapovalov. “I hardly slept yesterday. It’s a different match playing for your country, you’re representing your nation so it was tough but I think I controlled myself really well, and fought as hard as I could, and I’m happy I got the win.”

Winning the tie earned Canada a spot in the 16-team World Group in 2017. A loss would have sent Canada back to the Americas Zone Group where it hasn’t competed since 2011.

Canada hasn’t shut out an opponent at the Davis Cup since sweeping the Dominican Republic in 2010.

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Vancouver’s Vasek Pospisil and Dancevic were victorious in singles action on Friday to give the Canadians a 2-0 in the best-of-five tie. On Saturday, Pospisil and Toronto’s Adil Shamasdin beat Hans Podlipnik-Castillo and Nicolas Jarry in doubles play to seal the series win.

With Canada’s place assured in the elite World Group in 2017, the 17-year-old Shapovalov was tapped in to replace Pospisil in the second round of singles play to get the younger Canadian more international experience.

It looked like Canada would be undermanned in the tie without Milos Raonic of Thornhill, Ont., and doubles specialist Daniel Nestor of Toronto — both of whom were out with injuries.

The Canadian Press