Spain vs Canada – Group Stage – Preview & Prediction | 2022 Davis Cup Finals
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
THE FACTS
When is Spain vs Canada on and what time does it start? Spain vs Canada will take place on Friday 16th September, 2022 – not before 15:00 (UK)
Where is Spain vs Canada taking place? Spain vs Canada will take place at Pavelló Municipal Font de Sant Lluís in Valencia, Spain
What surface is Spain vs Canada being played on? Spain vs Canada will take place on an indoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Spain vs Canada? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Spain vs Canada
What channel is Spain vs Canada on in the UK? TBC
Where can I stream Spain vs Canada in the UK? TBC
THE LOWDOWN
Spain held back new world number one Carlos Alcaraz for their opening Davis Cup tie with Serbia and the risk worked, just about, with third option Albert Ramos-Vinolas edging out Laslo Djere in three tight sets and Roberto Bautista Agut stepping in to win the first option bout against Miomir Kecmanovic via two tiebreaks. Marcel Granollers and Pedro Martinez came back from a set down to win the tie 3-0 and Spain look more than likely to be come through Group B as leaders on home soil in Valencia.
ATP Cup champions Canada looked set for a 3-0 opening tie against South Korea after Vasek Pospisil edged past Seong-Chan Hong in the second option clash but world number 13 Felix Auger-Aliassime dropped the ball against Soonwoo Kwon to see the tie levelled at 1-1. The 22-year-old amended things a little in the doubles decider alongside Pospisil but Canada need him to rediscover his level after some recent struggles on tour. Canada finished runner-up to Spain at the 2019 Davis Cup Finals, where Roberto Bautista Agut beat a teenage Auger-Aliassime in the second option match.
THE PREDICTION
Six-time champions Spain won their most recent Davis Cup Finals at the hands of Canada at the Caja Magica in Madrid back in 2019, where Roberto Bautista Agut famously returned from attending the passing of his father to beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second option match – setting up Rafael Nadal to take the title with victory over Denis Shapovalov. Bautista Agut may well meet the Canadian again here as first options but Spain have new world number one Carlos Alcaraz at their disposal and if they are to use him this week, this is the match to do so. Auger-Aliassime was in control of their only previous meeting in the quarter-finals of the US Open last season before Alcaraz returned injured but he will face the Canadian as the champion of that Grand Slam this time around. Auger-Aliassime will be eager to make up for his poor start against South Korea and he also leads Bautista Agut 3-1 in their head-to-head having beaten the Spaniard in their last three meetings, including to win the ATP Cup Finals this January.
Whether or not Alcaraz plays, Spain are likely to win this encounter 2-1 as Canada will risk Auger-Aliassime and Pospisil in the doubles decider at 1-1. Pospisil is unlikely to beat any of the three Spaniards he could face first up, although he would fare a solid chance against Albert Ramos-Vinolas, so backing Spain to win outright looks sensible here.
