Shapovalov, Auger-Aliassime blank Finland in Davis Cup Finals singles matches

Canada's top male tennis players have defeated Finland 3-0 at the Davis Cup.

Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont., beat Eero Vasa 7-6 (2), 6-2 in the day's first singles match in Manchester, England.

Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime then dispatched Otto Virtanen 6-2, 6-3 in the second singles match.

Finally, Shapovalov and Auger-Aliassime teamed up to best Virtanen and Harri Heliovaara 6-2, 7-5 in doubles play.

It's the second consecutive group-stage tie Canada has won after beating Argentina 2-1 on Tuesday.

Canada, the lone seeded team in Group D, will face host Great Britain on Sunday.

WATCH | Shapovalov defeats Finland's Vasa in group stage match:

It is Canada's fifth consecutive appearance in the Davis Cup Finals, having won its only title in 2022. The Canadians defeated South Korea 3-1 in February's Davis Cup qualifiers in Montreal to reach the group stage of the finals.

There was an element of revenge after Canada lost to Finland in last year's quarterfinals.

"Everybody's in good spirits, so it's very good," Auger-Aliassime said. "Any motivation is good, but I think it's a different year, a different time, and [last year's loss] was behind us. This year we have a full team and everybody's playing better than last year. Everybody's improved."

WATCH | Auger-Aliassime posts 6-2, 6-2 victory on Thursday:

In other action, Germany swept aside Chile 3-0 in Zhuhai, China.

On an indoor hard court, Maximilian Marterer beat Tomas Barrios Vera 6-1, 6-3, then Yannick Hanfmann defeated Alejandro Tabilo 7-5, 6-4 to clinch the tie. Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz, who have lost only one cup match, beat Barrios Vera and Matias Soto 6-1, 6-3. In no match was Germany broken.

Germany has never lost to Chile, which didn't use