Australia beats Finland 2-0 to reach 2nd straight Davis Cup final

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Australia’s Alex de Minaur returns the ball to Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori during a Davis Cup semi-final tennis match between Finland and Australia in Malaga, Spain, Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori, left, congratulates with Australia’s Alex de Minaur at the end of their Davis Cup semi-final tennis match between Finland and Australia in Malaga, Spain, Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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Australia’s Alexei Popyrin returns the ball to Finland’s Otto Virtanen during a Davis Cup semi-final tennis match between Finland and Australia in Malaga, Spain, Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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Australia’s Alexei Popyrin celebrates after winning a point to Finland’s Otto Virtanen during a Davis Cup semi-final tennis match between Finland and Australia in Malaga, Spain, Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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Finland’s Otto Virtanen serves the ball to Australia’s Alexei Popyrin during a Davis Cup semi-final tennis match between Finland and Australia in Malaga, Spain, Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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Australia’s Alexei Popyrin, right, shakes hands with Finland’s Otto Virtanen at the end of a Davis Cup semi-final tennis match between Finland and Australia in Malaga, Spain, Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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Australia’s Alexei Popyrin celebrates with a teammate after beating Finland’s Otto Virtanen in a Davis Cup semi-final tennis match between Finland and Australia in Malaga, Spain, Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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Finland’s players salute supporters at the end of their Davis Cup semi-final tennis match between Finland and Australia in Malaga, Spain, Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori adjusts his hat during his Davis Cup semi-final tennis match against Australia’s Alex de Minaur in Malaga, Spain, Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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Australia’s Alex de Minaur reacts at the end of the Davis Cup semi-final tennis match against Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori, in Malaga, Spain, Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

MALAGA, Spain (AP) — Alex de Minaur and Alexei Popyrin put Australia back into the Davis Cup final for a second straight year after winning their singles matches in a 2-0 victory over Finland on Friday.

Popyrin gave Australia a 1-0 lead in the semifinal match after beating Otto Virtanen 7-6 (5), 6-2. De Minaur then finished off Finland by beating Emil Ruusuvuori 6-4, 6-3.

Novak Djokovic’s Serbia will face Jannik Sinner’s Italy on Saturday in the other semifinal match on the indoor hard court at Martin Carpena arena in Malaga, Spain.

“No Davis Cup match is easy and you don’t take anything for granted, rankings get thrown out the window,” said Australia captain Lleyton Hewitt. “We knew they were going to be tough opponents. I’m really proud of the boys.”

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Popyrin edged Virtanen in the first set, saving a set point when trailing 6-5 and forcing a tiebreaker that he clinched when his opponent slapped a forehand long.

Virtanen was Finland’s hero in its upset of defending champion Canada on Tuesday, winning both his singles and doubles matches. But his serve let him down against Popyrin in the second set when his fifth double-fault cost him a break.

“(That was) probably the biggest win of my career so far,” Popyrin said. “To win a match that means so much for us is an honor and something I will never forget.”

De Minaur converted five of 18 break chances against Ruusuvuori. He ended the match by landing a backhand winner on the sideline.

Australia has the second-most Davis Cup titles, with 28 to 32 for the United States, but its last success came in 2003.

Before beating Canada to reach the semifinals for the first time, the Finns had overcome the United States and Croatia at the group stage.

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AP Tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis