Canada has defeated Italy in the Davis Cup to advance to September’s World Group semifinals.
Toronto’s Milos Raonic defeated Andreas Seppi 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 at the Thunderbird Sports Centre in Vancouver on Sunday, giving Canada an overall 3-1 victory over Italy in the quarter-finals.
The win has moved Canada into unfamiliar territory: this is the first time Canadians will play in the World Group semis since the Davis Cup overhauled its format in 1981. Canada previously reached the Davis Cup semis in 1913. They lost to the U.S.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered his congratulations over social media, tweeting: “What an exciting time for tennis in Canada!”
Liberal Party leader Bob Rae, a former Tennis Canada director, tweeted: “My warmest congrats to Milos Raonic and Team Canada for their Davis Cup Victory!”
Sunday’s win followed a tense doubles match-up on Saturday featuring Toronto’s Daniel Nestor and Vancouver’s Vasek Pospisil.
The pair defeated Italians Daniele Bracciali and Dabio Fognini 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 15-13 in a match that lasted more than four hours.
Sunday’s win also marked Raonic’s seventh straight Davis Cup singles victory.
Canada will play Serbia in the semifinals scheduled for September.
Serbia advanced to the semis with a victory over the U.S. Sunday when Novak Djokovic, the world’s top player, defeated Sam Querrey. The win gave the Serbs a handy 3-1 lead in the series.
