In the best-of-three match in Malaga, Spain, Finland overcame the defending champions, Canada, by coming from behind to secure their spot in the 2023 Davis Cup semifinals.
Canada took the lead in the quarterfinal match when Milos Raonic defeated Patrick Kaukovalta in straight sets. Playing in his first Davis Cup Finals since 2018, Raonic defeated his Finnish opponent 6-3, 7-5, by dominating on the serve.
Raonic set the tone early in the first game with four of those aces. He won the opening break of the match due to a strong forehand winner, going up 5-3 before winning the first set with just one point lost on the serve.
The Canadian eventually broke his 24-year-old opponent for a 6-5 victory in the second, which was much tighter, and went all the way to 5-5. Raonic concluded the match in the same manner that he had begun it, securing the second set and giving Canada the lead with his devastating serving.
However, Finland responded in the second match through Otto Virtanen, forcing a decider. The 22-year-old defeated Gabriel Diallo in straight sets by being equally dominant behind his serve.
Virtanen hit 14 aces during the 94-minute match, compared to Diallo’s two. In the third game, the Finn broke the serve and quickly saved break-back opportunities before winning the opening set. Similar to the first set of the tie, the second set was decided by serve until Virtanen broke for a critical break at 5-5, capping a 6-4, 7-5 victory.
Virtanen then made a comeback for the pivotal doubles match, facing Alexis Galarneau and Vasek Pospisil in a pairing with Harri Heliovaara. The Canadians rallied to tie the game at 4-4 after the Finnish pair had taken the lead with a 3-1 lead.
The Finns took the initiative at 6-5, winning two set points and winning it on their second try to seize the early lead.
Finland ALL over 🇫🇮#DavisCupFinals | @tennisfi pic.twitter.com/o8uA3ZriDs
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) November 21, 2023
POV: you are courtside to witness Finland making history 🇫🇮#DavisCupFinals | @tennisfi pic.twitter.com/WO2jJXnpp5
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) November 21, 2023
Milos Raonic in 2023
LLWLWWWLWW Currently ranked no.318, Raonic played his last match on the 21st of November when he overcame world no.782 Patrick Kaukovalta 6-3 7-5 in the Rubber 1 of the Davis Cup (draw).
Currently, during this year Milos owns a compiled 5-4 record.
Patrick Kaukovalta in 2023
LWLWWLLWLL Currently ranked no.782, the Finn played his last match on the 21st of November when he lost to world no.318 Milos Raonic 6-3 7-5 in the Rubber 1 of the Davis Cup (draw).
This year the Finn achieved a compiled 16-13 record. This year, Kaukovalta lifted the trophy Budapest. Kaukovalta was the finalist in M15 Vaasa.
Milos Raonic and Patrick Kaukovalta played each other only once. Their current record is 1-0 for Raonic. When they played, Milos Raonic won 6-3 7-5 in the Rubber 1 in FIN (Davis Cup, World Group, QF, CAN) on the 21st of November 2023.
Otto Virtanen in 2023
LWWLWWWWWL Ranked no.171, Virtanen played his last match on the 21st of November when he overcame world no.139 Gabriel Diallo 6-4 7-5 in the Rubber 2 of the Davis Cup (draw).
This year Otto has a 33-30 win-loss record. The Finn conquered 2 titles in 2023 in the Lugano Challenger and the Lille Challenger.
Harri Heliovaara in 2023
Ranked world no., the Finn played his last match on the 10th of January 2022 when he was defeated by world no.421 Viktor Durasovic 6-4 3-6 6-4 in the qualifications in Sydney (draw).
This season Heliovaara has a 1-2 record.
Otto Virtanen and Harri Heliovaara have never played each other so far in top tournaments.
Milos Raonic, Patrick Kaukovalta, Otto Virtanen and Harri Heliovaara |
| Embed from Getty Images |
