Canada launched a dramatic fightback against Italy in the semi-finals of the Davis Cup to prevail 2-1 and set up a showpiece showdown with Australia in Malaga.
Lorenzo Sonego beat Denis Shapovalov to put Italy in the ascendancy before Felix Auger-Aliassime sent the tie to a deciding doubles after getting the better of Lorenzo Musetti.
Auger-Aliassime took to the court once again to face Matteo Berrettini and Fabio Fognini alongside Vasek Pospisil, and the Canadians prevailed in straight sets to advance to the final for just the second time in their history.
Sonego and Shapovalov played out a mammoth three-hour and 15-minute long opening match, where only two breaks were converted in the entire contest as Shapovalov produced eight double faults.
Sonego edged an extremely close contest 7-6[4] 6-7[5] 6-4 to hand Italy a 1-0 lead, presenting Musetti with the chance to seal his side's place in the final against Auger-Aliassime.
However, the Canadian was on song in match two and took just one hour and 25 minutes to prevail 6-3 6-4, hitting an impressive 12 aces throughout the contest.
After scraping the first-set tiebreaker in the pivotal doubles finale, Auger-Aliassime and Pospisil had the wind in their sails and claimed a 7-6[2] 7-5 victory to advance to the final, as Canada aim to better their second-placed finish to Spain in 2019.
Canada prepare to meet Australia in the final after the 28-time champions also came from behind to defeat Croatia 2-1 on Friday.
Ben Knapton
