Australia secure their quarter-final spot
ATP Cup hosts Australia have qualified for the quarter-finals after they dominated Canada yesterday in a 3-0 series win before Germany edged out Greece 2-1 in Brisbane.
After collecting their first victory against Germany on Friday, the Australians topped Group F with John Millman and Alex de Minaur earning singles victories.
Their qualification was later confirmed by Germany’s result over Greece after a dramatic deciding doubles contest.
Michail Pervolarakis and Stefanos Tsitsipas looked set to win the doubles when they were 5-0 ahead in the match tie-break against French Open champions Andreas Mies and Kevin Krawietz.
However, the Greeks missed six match points as Mies and Krawietz prevailed 3-6, 6-3, 17-15.
“I’m very proud how we came back and we fought hard,” said Mies.
Jan-Lennard Struff had put the Germans ahead by surpassing Pervolarakis 6-4, 6-1 before ATP Finals champion Tsitsipas levelled the tie with a 6-1, 6-4 result against Alexander Zverev.
“I’m very proud of myself the way I played and at the same time I feel disappointed,” said Tsitsipas.
“I came so close, but we could have been the ones that made the surprise today and we didn’t, which is such a shame.”
Earlier, Millman replaced Nick Kyrgios after he pulled out just before the contest and bested Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 6-2.
De Minaur then had to battle from behind before triumphing 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 6-2 against Denis Shapovalov in a three-hour marathon.
“I managed to turn things around, get back into a positive mindset, get my energy back,” De Minaur said. “I think it’s all energy. I know that my body’s ready to keep on going for however long it takes.”
Elsewhere in Sydney, Bulgaria maintained their hopes for qualification from Group C with their second success in a 2-1 series victory against Moldova.
Grigor Dimitrov clinched the tie by dispatching Radu Albot 6-2, 6-3 after Dimitar Kuzmanov overcame Alexander Cozbinov 6-1, 7-5.
Britain kept their chances in Group C alive with a 2-1 win over Belgium.
After Dan Evans levelled the contest with a 6-4, 6-4 success against David Goffin, the pairing of Jamie Murray and Joe Salisbury outlasted Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen 6-3, 7-6 (9-7).
In Perth, Italy recorded their first Group E win in a 2-1 win over Norway following Fabio Fognini and Simone Bolelli bested Casper Ruud and Viktor Durasovic 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).
“We won a very tough tie today and Norway’s playing very good,” said Bolelli.