Canada won a thrilling tie against Russia to seal a place in the Davis Cup final for the first time on Saturday.
Russia prevailed in a deciding doubles tie-break in an epic contest with Serbia a day earlier but were unable to repeat the trick as Denis Shapovalov and Vasek Pospisil made history for Canada.
The duo secured a 6-3 3-6 7-6 (7-5) triumph over Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov in Madrid, despite Pospisil having received treatment on a shoulder injury prior to the final set.
It marked the culmination of a memorable tussle, in which Russia struck first when Rublev earned a fourth singles victory of the week with a 6-4 6-4 win over Pospisil.
CANADIAN HISTORY. @denis_shapo and @VasekPospisil defeat Khachanov/Rublev 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5), sending Canada into the Davis Cup FINAL with a 2-1 win over Russia.
— Tennis Canada (@TennisCanada) November 23, 2019
It’s a first-ever @DavisCup final for Canada. Wow. pic.twitter.com/XFCK1GRtjh
That meant Shapovalov had to defeat Khachanov to keep Canada's hopes alive and things were not looking good when the Russian raced into a 4-1 lead.
Shapovalov rallied brilliantly to take the opener, but succumbed when serving to stay in the second at 5-4 down.
A tense decider went the way of Shapovalov, who celebrated a 6-4 4-6 6-4 victory in a match featuring 73 unforced errors.
Spain or Great Britain, who contest the other last-four tie, await in the final.
Following his upset win against Grigor Dimitrov, Malek Jaziri marched on at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Wednesday.
US Open champion Sloane Stephens advanced in Acapulco thanks to Wednesday's 5-7 7-6 (8-6) 6-0 victory over Dutch qualifier Arantxa Rus.
Juan Martin del Potro made it through to the last eight by outlasting Spanish veteran David Ferrer 6-4 4-6 6-3 in Acapulco on Wednesday.
Stan Wawrinka feels he would be better off on the practice courts rather than playing at Indian Wells or in Miami.
Juan Martin del Potro and Alexander Zverev will meet at the Mexican Open after quarter-final wins.
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