Canada won the Davis Cup for the first time in its history after beating Australia in back-to-back games in Malaga.

Denis Shapovalov kicked things off for the Canadians, who made their Davis Cup debut in 1913, beating Thanasi Kokkinakis 6–2, 6–4.

The 23-year-old – 18th in the ATP rankings – took the lead against his opponents, breaking the Aussie twice to lead 4-0.

It only took 32 minutes to settle the first set.

Shapovalov missed his first service chance for the game at 5–2 in the second, allowing Kokkinakis to break through and eventually reduce their lead to 5–4.

However, he was right in asking for a second time and set up Felix Auger Aliassime for the win.

The sixth-ranked Montreal native defeated challenger Alex de Minaur in straight sets earlier this year in Cincinnati and was hoping to recreate his success to break Canada’s 109-year trophyless streak.

He did it with ease, hitting six aces and 16 unbroken game-winning runs on his way to a 6-3, 6-4 win to clinch the title for a Canadian team that also included Vasek Pospisil, Alexis Galarneau and Gabriel Diallo.

“Emotions are hard to describe,” he told the Davis Cup media channel. “I think all of us here have dreamed of this moment.

“I mean, these guys around me, except Vasek, he’s a little bit older than me, but we grew up together since we were seven, eight, in Canada, dreaming of being on that stage, winning those kinds of games, winning the Davis Cup, so that’s really a dream come true.

“For me personally and for the whole team, that’s what we play for, that’s what sport is for, that’s what tennis is for, so it was a great moment. A great time for me and the country.