Germany, US, Kazakhstan in Davis Cup quarters
Paris, Feb. 4 Switzerland and Serbia, missing the accumulated Grand Slam power of Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic, slumped to defeat in the Davis Cup first round on Saturday, allowing Kazakhstan and the United States to reach the quarter- finals.
The Swiss have now fallen in the first round every year since their maiden title triumph in 2014, which was inspired by 20time major winner Federer and three- time Grand Slam champion Wawrinka.
But with recentlycrowned Australian Open champion Federer and injury- hit Wawrinka not making the trip to Astana, the Kazakhs made the most of their opportunity.
Timur Khabibulin and Aleksandr Nedovyesov sealed the key point by seeing off Marc- Andrea Huesler and Luca Margaroli 6- 4, 6- 4, 3- 6, 6- 7 ( 5/ 7), 6- 3 in the doubles for a 3- 0 lead.
Serbia, the 2010 champions but without Djokovic, were also defeated as Ryan Harrison and Steve Johnson downed Nikola Milojevic and Miljan Zekic 6- 7 ( 3/ 7), 6- 2, 7- 5, 6- 4 for a 3- 0 advantage on the clay courts in Nis.
Djokovic, the 12- time major winner and former world number one, was absent after undergoing surgery to cure a longstanding right elbow injury.
The United States, who have been champions 32 times, were 2- 0 up overnight after singles wins for Sam Querrey and John Isner.
Harrison, with a world ranking of 19 in doubles, teamed with Johnson against the rookie pair of unranked Zekic and the world 307 Milojevic and set up against
Hungary.
Belgium, the runners- up in 2017, are 2- 1 ahead of Hungary in Liege.
Defending champions France are 2- 1 up on the Netherlands in Albertville after Nicolas Mahut and Pierre- Hugues Herbert a quarterfinal Belgium or defeated Robin Haase and Jean- Julien Rojer 7- 6 ( 8/ 6), 6- 3, 6- 7 ( 3/ 7), 7- 6 ( 7/ 2).
“It was by far their best match in the Davis Cup,” said France skipper Yannick Noah.
The winners will face Italy, who defeated Japan 3- 1. Italy’s number one Fabio Fognini beat Yuichi Sugita 3- 6, 6- 1, 3- 6, 7- 6, 7- 5 in a marathon match lasting four hours and eight minutes.
Five- time champions Spain, without world number one Rafael Nadal, are 2- 1 up on Great Britain on clay in Marbella after Pablo Carreno Busta and Feliciano Lopez defeated Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot 6- 4, 6- 4, 7- 6 ( 7/ 4).
Britain are Andy Murray, recovering from
The winners of that tie will face Germany who beat Australia 3- 1 in Brisbane.
German number one Alexander Zverev produced some superb tennis to down Nick Kyrgios 6- 2, 7- 6 ( 7/ 3), 6- 2 in one hour, 48 minutes to script Germany’s win. missing who is hip surgery.