World Echo Desk
Italy will face Canada for a spot in the Davis Cup final following Thursday’s nail-biting quarterfinals in Malaga.
Italy defeated the United States 2-1 in their Davis Cup quarterfinal match on Thursday in Malaga, thanks to a victory in the decisive doubles by Fabio Fognini and Simone Bolelli.
The win has set up a semi-final clash on Saturday against Canada, who won 2-1 in the deciding doubles against Germany.
Fognini, after the pair beat Jack Sock and Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-4, said he was “really happy,” and they played “really well.”
The 2015 Australian Open winners Fognini and Bolelli prevailed after breaking in the ninth game of the first set and the seventh game of the second.
Canadain duo Shapovalov and Vasek Pospisil appeared in trouble when they lost the opening set 6-2 against Germany’s Tim Puetz, and Kevin Krawietz, who had won all eight Davis Cup matches when paired together.
The Canadian pair, who hit 11 aces during the match, fought hard in an amazing comeback to force a decider, which they won 6-3 to hand their opponents their first loss.
In the first semi-final on Friday, 28-time Davis Cup winner Australia will take on two-time champion Croatia.
