Following Raonic’s fall, Pospisil’s win sends Canada to Davis Cup quarters

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When it counted, Milos Raonic could not quite deliver for Canada. So the country's fortunes in the first round of the Davis Cup were left to Canada's second man in singles, Vasek Pospisil, playing at home in Vancouver.

Pospisil – the 24-year-old who had trained when he was younger on the public tennis courts at Kitsilano Beach – won it for Canada, in the final singles match on Sunday. Canada had been tied 2-2 with Japan in the best-of-five contest in international Davis Cup play. Pospisil never wavered as he conjured a swift and decisive victory in three sets against Japan's Go Soeda.

The victory propels Canada into the quarter-finals of Davis Cup for the second time in three years – an affirmation of Canada's rising prowess in men's tennis. It was the depth of Canada's roster that made the difference.

Pospisil drove home an ace to win the day's final point. He fell to his knees at the hockey arena at the University of British Columbia, pumping his arms to celebrate. Pospisil, Raonic and the team then draped their arms around one another and danced in a joyous circle.

"I couldn't have served any better," Pospisil said on the court after the win. He then jogged around the court, holding a Canadian flag fluttering like a hero's cape.

It was Pospisil's third match in three days – the fourth time he has played three times in one Davis Cup weekend for Canada – and was the key player in Canada's full team effort to defeat Japan.

Raonic, No. 6 in the world, won on Friday but lost on Sunday in a long, close five-set match against archrival Kei Nishikori, the world's No. 4 player. But Canada had the edge in doubles, with 42-year-old Daniel Nestor and Pospisil winning in five sets on Saturday, and Raonic's narrow loss on Sunday was moot because of Pospisil's performance.

In mid-July, Canada will face Belgium in Belgium, where Canada will be favoured, ranked No. 9 in the Davis Cup to Belgium's No. 18. Canada has a stronger roster, particularly in doubles, and depth in singles with Pospisil.

Should Canada defeat Belgium, Canada would reach its Davis Cup best mark once again, the semi-finals. In 2013, Canada lost 3-2 in the semis to Serbia, led by Novak Djokovic, playing in Serbia on clay, which favoured the home country. Canada this year could again meet Serbia in the semi-finals in mid-September – but this time it would be played in Canada, on a fast hard court, the same type on which Canada won a string of Davis Cup contests in Vancouver.

Pospisil is the same age as Raonic but has not had the same success or acclaim, in part because he has struggled at times with injuries. He is ranked No. 62 in the world – having reached No. 25 last year – and it was never in doubt against 30-year-old Soeda, No. 86 in the world. Pospisil won 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 – ceding no break points to Soeda and blasting 14 aces to Soeda's two.

Pospisil has been strong for Canada in Davis Cup play, helping win a crucial and epic doubles in the second round in 2013 with Nestor against Italy – but his moment on Sunday as afternoon ebbed into evening was his biggest yet in singles. Before Sunday, he had won five singles matches in Davis Cup against eight losses.

Vancouver is home court for Canada – but more so for Pospisil. The son of Czech immigrants, he was born in Vernon, B.C., and at the age of 12 moved to Vancouver with his mother for a new coach, while his dad stayed behind to work in Vernon. This week, a plaque to honour Pospisil was unveiled at the courts at Kits Beach, where he played when he moved.

In the Raonic-Nishikori match – the rivals' sixth meeting in 10 months – it was as usual decided in small fractions. The final score was 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.

"It came to one or two points – and that was it," said Raonic afterward, his voice steady, his face expressing little emotion, after his chance to win the day for Canada slipped away. "One or two moments," he repeated a few minutes later. "I'm happy with the way I fought."