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.”

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.

COMMANDERS FIRE DC, DB COACH

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — The Washington Commanders fired defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio and defensive backs coach Brent Vieselmeyer on Friday.

The moves come a day after a 45-10 loss at the Dallas Cowboys.

Washington has allowed 40 or more points in seven of 12 games and 290-plus yards 11 times.

Coach Ron Rivera could take over the defensive play-calling duties himself. That would allow him to defer even more to new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.

Del Rio was 12 games into his fourth season with Washington after Rivera hired him in 2020.

MEET THE FLIVVERS SET FOR MONDAY

KINGSFORD — The winter edition of “Meet the Flivvers” is set for Monday night at Kingsford High School, giving Flivver fans a chance to meet the members of the school’s winter sports teams.

The annual event will take place in the blue gym, according to organizers.

Pizza will be served at 5:15 p.m. in the Kingsford Middle School cafeteria, with team introductions to start at 6 p.m.