the first round of the World Group, but lost 1–4. Pospisil lost the first match to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Raonic won the next one against Julien Benneteau to end day one at 1–1. Canada then lost the three next matches (the doubles and the last singles match) as Raonic had to withdraw for his second singles match against Tsonga following an injury on his left knee. He was replaced by Dancevic who lost in straight sets. Canada secured its spot in the World Group in 2013, and for the second straight year, with a 4–1 victory over South Africa in the playoffs in September. Canada had only played two straight years in the World Group one other time in its history before that, in 1991–92. 2013: Run to the World Group semifinals In 2013, Canada upset the number one ranked tennis nation Spain 3–2 in the first round of the World Group, the first win ever for Canada at that stage in the Open Era. Raonic won the first match over Albert Ramos and Dancevic defeated then No. 34 Marcel Granollers to give Canada a 2–0 lead after the first day. Canada's doubles team of Nestor and Pospisil lost to Marc López and Granollers, but Raonic secured the win for Canada in the final day with a victory over Guillermo García-López. Dancevic lost the last match to Ramos. Canada then defeated in April Italy 3–1 in the quarterfinals to reach the second semifinal of its history, the first in the Open Era. Italy's Andreas Seppi won the first match over Pospisil, but Raonic answered back with a victory over Fabio Fognini. The Canadian doubles team of Nestor and Pospisil took the crucial doubles match in a marathon of almost four hours and a half over Daniele Bracciali and Fognini. Raonic gave Canada the win after defeating Seppi in the final day. Canada was eliminated 2–3 by Serbia in the semifinals in September. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic won the first match over Pospisil and Raonic took the second over Janko Tipsarević to end day one at 1–1. Canada had a 2–1 lead after the second day when the doubles team of Nestor and Pospisil defeated Nenad Zimonjić and Ilija Bozoljac. Raonic and Pospisil both lost their matches the final day, respectively to Djokovic and to Tipsarević. Canada will stay in the World Group in 2014 for a third straight year,