Canada’s Denis Shapovalov celebrates after defeating Thanasi Kokkinakis.Credit:
No team without a top-20 player in either singles or doubles has won the title since Argentina in 2016 and that lack of a world-beater was evident on Sunday (Monday AEDT) as not even de Minaur’s admirable fighting spirit could conjure up Australia’s first triumph since 2003.
After a dejected Kokkinakis was left scolding himself for being “pretty much useless” in his 6-2 6-4 shredding by Shapovalov,the never-say-die Australian No.1 de Minaur knew he’d have to probably summon his best-ever performance against Auger-Aliassime.
The big names were out in force at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena at the Spanish resort,with Novak Djokovic bringing his son along to watch and soccer star Gerard Pique,overlord of the new-look Davis Cup,in the VIP tribune.
Alex de Minaur started well,carving out break points in the Canadian’s opening two service games.Credit:
But the real star proved to be the 22-year-old Auger-Aliassime,who looked every inch the future grand slam winner that has long been seen as his tennis destiny.
De Minaur started well,carving out break points in the Canadian’s opening two service games,but once the world No.6 started to find his ominous groove,his languid power began to dictate proceedings and eventually overwhelm the ‘Demon’.