Tennis: Spain crash out to Canada, US survive

Canada completes a famous World Group triumph, while US edges Brazil in a dogfight.

PARIS: Short-handed five-time champions Spain crashed out of the Davis Cup on Sunday when Canada completed a famous World Group triumph while 32-time winners US edged Brazil in a dogfight.

Milos Raonic secured the crucial winning point in Canada’s 3-2 victory in Vancouver by beating Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to send Canada into their first Davis Cup quarter-final. They will tackle Italy in April for a place in the semi-finals.

The US escaped an upset when Sam Querrey rallied to beat Thiago Alves 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) and give the Americans a 3-2 triumph. Querrey fired 26 aces for a perfect weekend in his first Davis Cup home tie. The Americans will meet 2010 champions Serbia, who had already defeated Belgium.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th, 2013.