Davis Cup 2026: Auger-Aliassime knocks France out, Canada head to Bologna

France will not be in Bologna. Trailing 2-0 after the first day, Paul-Henri Mathieu's team win the doubles on Saturday in Quebec City, then Felix Auger-Aliassime beats Arthur Rinderknech and takes Canada through to the Davis Cup Final 8 (3-1).

What was the result of Canada vs France?

Canada win 3-1 at the Centre Videotron. The fifth rubber is not played.

Liam Draxl beats Arthur Rinderknech 6-2, 7-5
Felix Auger-Aliassime beats Quentin Halys 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3
Benjamin Bonzi and Pierre-Hugues Herbert beat Felix Auger-Aliassime and Duncan Chan 7-6(4), 6-3
Felix Auger-Aliassime beats Arthur Rinderknech 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4

It is Canada's first Davis Cup win over France, after three defeats in three ties, as our preview pointed out.

How did France win the doubles?

With their backs to the wall, Bonzi and Herbert edge the first-set tie-break, then pull away in the second, in 1 hour 33 minutes. "France needed a reaction. We did our job," says Herbert. "We fought like dogs," adds Bonzi.

How did Auger-Aliassime turn it around against Rinderknech?

Rinderknech takes the first set, then leads 4-2 in the second-set tie-break. Auger-Aliassime, the world No. 5, reels him in and levels at one set all. In the third, the Canadian breaks at 5-4 to close it out after 2 hours 21 minutes. He serves 17 aces and faces only two break points in the whole match.

"We wanted to go back to Bologna, we're not going, it's hard. Felix is a great player," says Rinderknech, who led the team in Arthur Fils's absence. "We knew our backs were to the wall. There's a lot of disappointment," says Mathieu.

For Auger-Aliassime, the ticket is punched at home: he grew up in the Quebec City suburbs, and the city had not hosted the Davis Cup since 1974.

Who plays the Final 8 in Bologna?

Eight nations, from 24 to 29 November at the SuperTennis Arena: Italy, defending champions and hosts, Germany, Spain, Great Britain, Austria, Canada, South Korea and Czechia. Canada are chasing a second title, after 2022.

France will have to go through the qualifiers again in 2027.