The Ymer brothers help Sweden to astonish Canada in the Davis Cup final
MADRID (AP) – Before any matches were played, Elias Ymer did not hesitate to say that Sweden could succeed in the Davis Cup final despite being one of the lowest ranked nations in the competition.
He backed up his words with a big opening win on Thursday, and then cheered on his brother Mikael in the second singles match that snatched Sweden’s victory over 2019’s second Canada in Group B.
Croatia also won on opening day, while defending champions Spain were left without one of their biggest attractions after 18-year-old Carlos Alcaraz tested positive for the corona virus and had to be removed from the squad. Spain would start against Ecuador on Friday in Group A.
Sweden also won the doubles match against Canada after Elias Ymer defeated Steven Diaz 6-4, 6-2 and Mikael Ymer defeated Vasek Pospisil 6-4, 6-4.
“It’s a miracle. You do not see it in almost any other country. It is not in many sports, two brothers,” said Elias Ymer. “Our parents immigrated from Ethiopia. We are both No. 1 and No. 2, and represent Sweden in the world’s biggest tennis event. You don’t see it that often. “
Elias Ymer, ranked 171st, gathered after losing 4-1 in the first set against Diaz. Mikael Ymer, ranked 93rd and two years younger than Elias, traded his two break point opportunities against Pospisil.
Mikael Ymer said that their profits will surely be echoed at home.
“Growing up was also one of my dad’s big dreams,” he said. “Even though I do not think so much about it when I play or during the week, for me it is more about the team and the country. Of course there are moments here and there when I sit and I think it’s beautiful, it’s a beautiful history.”
In the doubles match, Andre Göransson and Robert Lindstedt defeated Pospisil and Brayden Schnur 7-6 (5), 6-4 to give the Swedes all three points.
Sweden is in 14th place in the Davis Cup ranking and makes its first appearance in the renewed competition. They are trying to reach the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup for the first time since 2011.
“I said (we could win this) because I think faith is super important. It’s something everyone has to work on,” says Elias Ymer. “I said it because, well, if I do not think we can win this “Why should we even be here?”
Sixth-ranked Canada lost to host Spain in the final of the event’s first edition, when Pospisil was one of its key players.
The second edition of the Davis Cup final began with two other matches played simultaneously in Austria and Italy.
CROATIA-AUSTRALIA
In Turin, Borna Gojo and Marin Cilic gave the 2018 champions Croatia the victory over the 28-time winner Australia in Group D.
Gojo, ranked 276th, defeated no. 61 Alexei Popyrin with 7-6 (5), 7-5 after saving all five break points he encountered. No. 30 Cilic surpassed No. 34 Alex de Minaur 6-1, 5-7, 6-4.
CZECH REPUBLIC-FRANCE
The Czech Republic went up 1-0 against France when 21-year-old Thomas Machac defeated veteran Richard Gasquet 7-6, 6-2 (3) in Group C in Innsbruck. The 35-year-old Gasquet dropped 11 aces against the 143rd ranked Machac in an empty arena due to coronavirus restrictions in Austria.
Top-ranked France leveled the series as Adrian Mannarino rallied to defeat Jiri Vesely 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-2.
Each match on hard courts indoors is a best-of-three series with two singles and a doubles match. The six group winners plus the other two teams with the best results based on sets and matches advance to the quarterfinals.
The 18-team competition was not played last year due to the pandemic. There will be no fans allowed in Innsbruck, and the capacity is 60% in Turin and 75% in Madrid, where a good audience was on hand for the opening match between Sweden and Canada.
The event was held entirely in Madrid for seven days in 2019 and was extended to 11 days this time after criticism from players and fans over late matches in mostly empty arenas and not enough rest between matches.
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