Malaga – Canada’s Davis Cup reign came to an unexpected halt on Tuesday as underdogs Finland orchestrated a major upset on the opening day of the Final Eight in Malaga. In front of a spirited Finnish crowd, Otto Virtanen and Harri Heliovaara secured a historic victory over Vasek Pospisil and Alexis Galarneau with a scoreline of 7-5, 6-3, propelling Finland into the semi-finals for the first time.
Despite a promising start for Canada with Milos Raonic dispatching Patrick Kaukovalta 6-3, 7-5, unleashing 18 aces, the absence of key players loomed large. Canada’s top-ranked player, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Finland’s number one, Emil Ruusuvuori, were sidelined due to injuries, setting the stage for a challenging encounter.
The resilient 171st-ranked Virtanen showcased exceptional tennis, overcoming fellow 22-year-old Gabriel Diallo to level the tie, leading to a decisive doubles rubber. Despite an injury to Pospisil, Finland capitalized on a service break in the eighth game of the second set, securing the win and setting up a semi-final clash against the winner of Czech Republic versus last year’s runners-up, Australia.
The Final Eight’s action continues on Wednesday with the Czech Republic facing Australia, and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) hopes for an atmosphere reminiscent of the opening battle. Recent changes to the historic competition’s format, following the dissolution of the alliance with Spanish investment company Kosmos, have sparked mixed reactions. The traditional ‘home and away’ ties have largely been replaced, with ITF president David Haggerty defending the new format.
Haggerty stated, “The home and away format is not going to work, and the players told us that in the past. It would not be a good competition if we went back to only home and away. Sometimes the loudest voices aren’t always the majority.”
Tuesday’s near sell-out crowd in Malaga provided an electric atmosphere, contrasting with some ties in September. Finnish fans, many residing in Spain, celebrated the historic win and are expected to rally behind their team on Friday.
Finland’s captain, Jarkko Nieminen, expressed his joy, saying, “Obviously, it’s a great moment now today, and it’s still not time to celebrate. We have the chance to go even further. With this great feeling and confidence, it’s really nice to step on the court on Friday. It’s incredible, the whole journey with these guys since I started as a captain.”
