MALAGA, Spain, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Australia reached a second successive Davis Cup final when Alex de Minaur overpowered Emil Ruusuvuori 6-4 6-3 after Alexei Popyrin beat Otto Virtanen 7-6(5) 6-2 to earn the 28-time champions a 2-0 win over Finland on Friday.
"Extremely proud moment but I could have not done it without these guys," De Minaur said, pointing to his team.
Popyrin, a late switch for the injured Thanasi Kokkinakis, grabbed the first break in the second set when Virtanen hit two successive double faults as Australia sensed an opportunity.
"It's nerves that I've never experienced before in my life, the nerves playing the first tie, the first rubber of a Davis Cup, winning my first live rubber of a Davis Cup.
De Minaur said Australia would be tricky opponents for any team in the final and tipped the doubles duo of Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell to play a vital role.
Persons:
Alex de Minaur, Emil Ruusuvuori, Alexei Popyrin, Otto Virtanen, Lleyton Hewitt's, De Minaur, Alexei hasn't, Popyrin, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Virtanen, I've, Matthew Ebden, Max Purcell, We've, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Toby Davis, Ed Osmond, Ken Ferris
Organizations:
Davis, Finland, Friday, men's, Finns, Ruusuvuori, Canada, Australia, Thomson
Locations:
MALAGA, Spain, Australia, Canada, United States, Serbia, Italy, Finland, Malaga, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Fuengirola, Bengaluru