Vasek Pospisil Puts Canada Through Against Japan
Vasek Pospisil, ranked 62nd in the world, fired 14 aces in his 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Go Soeda, who was drafted for singles duty in place of Tatsuma Ito, who fell to Milos Raonic in straight sets.
Canada punched their Davis Cup quarter-final ticket on Sunday as Vasek Pospisil beat Go Soeda in straight sets in the decisive fifth match of their World Group first-round tie.
Pospisil, ranked 62nd in the world, fired 14 aces in his 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Soeda, who was drafted for singles duty in place of Tatsuma Ito, who fell to Milos Raonic in straight sets to open the tie on Friday.
The Canadian needed just one hour and 49 minutes to subdue Soeda, after world number four Kei Nishikori had kept Japanese hopes alive with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 win over Raonic.
Nishikori, the 2014 US Open runner-up needed three hours and four minutes to stretch his career head-to-head record over the sixth-ranked Canadian to 5-2.
Canada, who had lost six prior Davis Cup meetings with Japan, next face Belgium, who eliminated Switzerland in Liege as the holders made do without stars Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka.
Canada are trying to improve on their best Davis Cup showing to date, a 2013 run to the semi-finals where they fell to Serbia in Belgrade.