Australia see off Finland to reach Davis Cup final for second-successive year
Alexei Popyrin and Alex De Minaur claimed singles victories in Malaga.
![Alexei Popyrin celebrated his first live Davis Cup win (Adam Davy/PA)](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/11/24/19/ef789067e35349b200406173e7a572d1Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzAwOTM5MDUy-2.74649451.jpg)
Support truly
independent journalism
Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.
Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.
Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.
![Louise Thomas](https://static.independent.co.uk/static-assets/support-us/louise-thomas.png)
Louise Thomas
Editor
Australia ended the surprise run of Finland to reach the Davis Cup final for the second year in a row.
Finland defeated Croatia and the USA in the group stage in September to qualify for the quarter-finals for the first time and then upset defending champions Canada on Tuesday.
Backed by thousands of fans in Malaga thanks to a sizeable local population of ex-pats, they hoped to continue the fairytale but found Australia too strong.
Otto Virtanen, ranked 171, had been the unlikely star of their run but he was beaten 7-6 (5) 6-2 by Alexei Popyrin, a late call-up to the Australia team and picked ahead of Jordan Thompson, in the opening match.
It was a first victory in a live rubber for the 24-year-old, who said: “It’s nerves that I have never experienced before in my life.”
The Finns were boosted by the return of their number one Emil Ruusuvuori from a shoulder injury but he was unable to capitalise on a good start against world number 12 Alex De Minaur and went down 6-4 6-3.
Australia will now try to go one better than last year’s 2-0 loss to Canada when they take on either Serbia or Italy in the final.
It is a 49th Davis Cup final for Australia but they have not lifted the trophy since 2003.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.