PARIS (AFP) – Britain booked their place within the Davis Cup quarter-finals with a come-from-behind victory over the Czech Republic on Sunday (Nov 28), whereas Germany, Kazakhstan and Croatia additionally reached the final eight.
Dan Evans’ shock 6-2, 7-5 loss to world quantity 143 Tomas Machac left Britain needing to combat again to safe a second straight win and take high spot in Group C. However Cameron Norrie overcame a second-set blip to see off Jiri Lehecka 6-1, 2-6, 6-1, earlier than Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski teamed as much as beat Machac and Jiri Vesely 6-4, 6-2 in Innsbruck.
“It is nice. Right this moment was powerful. Lots of people have a look at the rankings however it’s by no means like that,” British captain Leon Smith, whose aspect will subsequent play Germany on Tuesday, advised the BBC. “We have been underdogs and managed to get wins. The Czech crew performed effectively – very younger crew. Machac changed into a high 20 participant in a single day!”
The ties in Austria are being performed behind closed doorways resulting from new coronavirus restrictions within the nation. France, after profitable towards the Czechs and dropping to Britain, are out of the event.
Germany backed up their shock victory over Novak Djokovic’s Serbia by preventing again to edge out hosts Austria and undergo as Group F winners.
Serbia needed to accept second place and should now wait to see in the event that they progress as one of many two finest runners-up. Dominik Koepfer misplaced 6-1, 7-5 to Jurij Rodionov to place the Germans in bother, however Jan-Lennard Struff levelled the tie by cruising previous Dennis Novak 7-5, 6-4.
Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz accomplished the job within the doubles, as they did towards Djokovic and Serbia on Saturday, profitable 6-3, 6-4 towards Oliver Marach and Philipp Oswald.
Indignant crowd
Croatia simply wanted to win one rubber towards Hungary to wrap up first place in Group D and the 242nd-ranked Nino Serdarusic did simply that within the opening match towards Fabian Marozsan in Turin.
His 6-4, 6-4 success helped keep away from a nervy end to the tie for the two-time winners, as Marin Cilic misplaced the second singles 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 to spectacular Hungarian teen Zsombor Piros.
Kazakhstan additionally moved into the knockout stage by downing 2019 runners-up Canada in Madrid. The event was postponed final yr due to the Covid pandemic.
Kazakhstan, who beat Sweden on Saturday, emerged victorious once more due to singles wins for Mikhail Kukushkin and Alexander Bublik, over Brayden Schnur and Vasek Pospisil respectively.
Bublik drew the ire of the Spanish crowd for delivering an underarm serve at 4-4 within the second set, however that solely appeared to spur him on. “As one legend says, once you fall asleep guys, know that I received due to you,” he stated to the group, referring to US Open champion Daniil Medvedev.
Afterward Sunday, the Russian Tennis Federation, the favourites for the title, tackle depleted reigning champions Spain in a winner-takes-all encounter.
Italy turned the primary crew to make the quarters on Saturday and can face Croatia in Turin on Monday.