Sweden has got off to a dream start in the Davis Cup finals after thrashing 2019 runner-up Canada 3-0.
The Nordic nation hasn’t won the historic team event since 1998 but they were no match for their opponents who are playing in the tournament without their two best players. Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov have opted to miss the event in order to rest ahead of the new season. Impressively Sweden, who are being led by brother Elias and Mikael Ymer, didn’t drop a set in any of the three matches they played in the tie.
“It’s a miracle. You don’t see it in almost any other country. It’s not in many sports, two brothers,” Elias Ymer said. “Our parents immigrated from Ethiopia. We’re both like No. 1 and No. 2, representing Sweden in the biggest tennis event in the world. You don’t see it so often.”
Elias Ymer battles past Diez
In the first rubber of the tie between Canada and Sweden, Elias Ymer got his country on the board after beating Steven Diez 6-4, 6-2 in one hour and 27 minutes.
The Swede hit 19 winners and served three aces as he overcame a 1-4 deficit to come back and beat Diez to give Sweden the first point of the tie.
It was world number 171 Ymer who had the fast start after breaking serve in the first game of the match. His Canadian rival bounced back the very next game by breaking right back and was able to get the first hold of serve of the first set. Diez was able to break once more to take a 3-1 lead and managed to consolidate the break. The match stayed on serve until 4-2 when the Swede managed to get the break back and broke again and with that break served out the first set.
The beginning of the second set was identical to the first with Ymer breaking serve once again in the first game of the set and this time was able to consolidate it. It stayed on serve until 3-1 when Ymer had three more chances to go up a double break and did just that and that was enough for him to serve out the match and give Sweden the first win of this tie.
Mikeal Ymer handles Pospisil
Next up on court was Vasek Pospisil facing-off against the other Ymer brother Mikeal. The Swede pulled off a 6-4, 6-4, win in 90 minutes by hitting 13 winners and serving four aces.
The first two games of the opener went on serve and it was the world number 93 with the first break points of the match. He managed to get the early break with a stunning passing shot.
That one break of serve was enough for the Stockholm resident to serve out the first set. The second set stayed on serve until 3-3 when once again Sweden earned a chance to break and took it before going on to serve out the match.
Sweden shuts out Canada
With the tie being won by Sweden, a dead rubber doubles match took place featuring the team of Vasek Pospisil and Brayden Schnurr playing the Swedish duo of Robert Lindstedt and Andre Goransson.
It was Lindstedt and Goransson who took the match in straight sets 7-6, 6-4 in one hour and 38 minutes to make it 3-0 for Sweden.
Sweden now has a chance now to book a spot in the quarterfinals on Saturday if they are able to beat Kazakstan.
