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No ATP tournament last week since it was the Davis Cup that was in the spotlight. The qualifiers are already an important event. To see the final stages of the competition, it was necessary to win. In case of defeat, it will be necessary to play its maintenance of World Group in a few months. The weekend was rich and several countries had already their qualification. The USA, Switzerland, Sweden, Serbia, Great Britain, South Korea and France qualified. Five tickets were still to be distributed this Sunday. Croatia, Chile, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Finland have secured their ticket.
The qualifiers are an important event. To see the final stages of the competition, it was necessary to win. In case of defeat, it will be necessary to play its maintenance in the World Group in a few months. Australia and Canada are already qualified, thanks to their status of finalists in 2022, but also Spain and Italy, who received the two wild-cards distributed by the ITF. The 12 qualifiers from the play-offs will also be present for the group phase from September 12 to 17. Four groups of four with the first two of each group qualified for the quarterfinals. Note that the stage of the quarters and the last four will take place from 21 to 26 November. The locations of the pools are not yet determined. Malaga should be the place of the Final 8.
Uzbekistan – USA: 0-4
The USA didn’t have their dream team but they remained largely favorites and assumed their status. With Tommy Paul as leader, then Mackenzie McDonald, the singles were formalities. On Saturday, in doubles, Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek did not have to force themselves to extinguish Uzbekistan. Not surprisingly, the USA will be in the finals in September. Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz could be present at that time.
Germany – Switzerland: 2-3
It was perhaps the poster not to be missed of the weekend. Alexander Zverev’s Germany faced Stan Wawrinka’s Switzerland. The German, who is looking for rhythm, won a nice victory against the Vaudois, 6-4, 6-1. But this Saturday, he fell in two sets against Huesler. Since before that Oscar Otte was defeated by Marc-Andrea Huesler and the doubles was won by Tim Puetz / Andreas Mies against Dominic Stricker / Leandro Riedi, the last single between Stan Wawrinka and Daniel Altmaier was decisive. Crushed by Zverev on Friday, the Swiss recovered well against Daniel Altmaier and won 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 at the end of a very close match.
With Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans, Jack Draper and the tandem Neal Skupski / Joe Salisbury, Great Britain did not miss their appointment against Colombia, carried by the double Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah. However, after the first day, the two teams were back to back. To everyone’s surprise, Nicolas Mejia had done the great feat of beating Dan Evans. Cameron Norrie had set the record straight against Nicolas Barrientos. Curious first day… The two doubles teams started the day and the English managed the match better by winning 6-4, 6-4. Cameron Norrie dominated the surprising Mejia, 6-4, 6-4. The British will be there in September.
Colombia – Great Britain: 1-3
With Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans, Jack Draper and the tandem Neal Skupski / Joe Salisbury, Great Britain did not miss their appointment against Colombia, carried by the double Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah. However, after the first day, the two teams were back to back. To everyone’s surprise, Nicolas Mejia had done the great feat of beating Dan Evans. Cameron Norrie had set the record straight against Nicolas Barrientos. Curious first day… The two doubles teams started the day and the English managed the match better by winning 6-4, 6-4. Cameron Norrie dominated the surprising Mejia, 6-4, 6-4. The British will be there in September.
Norway – Serbia: 0-4
Without Novak Djokovic, Serbia counted on Miomir Kecmanovic, Laslo Djere and Filip Krajinovic to do the job against Norway without Casper Ruud. And the job was done very well. In Oslo, the Norwegians were powerless. Djere and Kecmanovic brought the first two points for Serbia. The duo Cacic/Krajinovic killed the suspense at the beginning of the day on Saturday.
Sweden – Bosnia-Herzegovina: 3-1
A little “hot” the Ymer brothers against Bosnia? Yes, they were. This weekend, the two brothers have allowed Sweden to qualify by dominating Bosnia of Damir Dzumhur. If Elias Ymer, accompanied by Andre Goransson, was beaten by the duo Mirza Basic/Tomislav Brkic during the doubles, the Ymer brothers were perfect in singles by winning their three matches.
Croatia – Austria: 3-1
Borna Coric, Borna Gojo, Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic. Classic for the Croatians. On the other side, Dominic Thiem tries to find his sensations and to get his confidence back. Unfortunately, it is clearly not enough to achieve a performance against the Croats. The latter lead 2-0 after the first day thanks to Coric and Gojo. This Sunday, the Croatians concluded in match 4 thanks to Borna Coric’s victory over Dominic Thiem 7-6(3), 6-2.
Chile – Kazakhstan: 3-1
Alejandro Tabilo, Cristian Garin and Nicolas Jarry are over motivated at home. On clay, the Chileans had to surprise Alexander Bublik’s Kazakhstan, always present in the last years during the final phases. It was a bad start for Chile with the defeat of Garin against Timofey Skatov 6-1, 6-3, but the great Nicolas Jarry defeated Alexander Bublik in just one hour (6-2, 6-2). The countdown to the doubles match was over. The pair Tabilo/Barrios did the job to put Chile back in front before Garin closed in three sets against Bublik.
South Korea – Belgium: 3-2
Carried by David Goffin, Belgium wanted to honor its captain, Johan Van Herck, who will leave his functions at the end of the year. Well surrounded by Zizou Bergs and the double Sander Gille / Joran Vliegen, Goffin was well on his way to defeat South Korea, always formidable at home. Goffin and Bergs gave the first two points to the Belgians before a crazy Sunday and three points won by South Korea. A bluffing remontada.
Netherlands – Slovakia : 4-0
Very homogeneous, the Netherlands would have disappointed by not inviting themselves for the final phases of this Davis Cup 2023. With Botic Van de Zandschulp, Tallon Griekspoor, the pair Wesley Koolhof / Matwe Middelkoop and Tim Van Rijthoven, the Dutch were big favorites against Alex Molcan’s Slovakia. Griekspoor launched his country well by dominating Lukas Klein, 7-6(6), 2-6, 6-4. Tim van Rijhtoven won a great match against Alex Molcan, number one of the Slovakian team. He defeated his opponent in 2h57, 7-6[6], 5-7, 6-3. The double Koolhof/Middelkoop finished the job against the pair Klein/Molcan in two sets on Sunday.
Finland – Argentina: 3-1
On hard indoor courts, the Argentineans will have to adapt. Francisco Cerundolo, Pedro Cachin and Facundo Bagnis knew they had to be careful with Emil Ruusuvuori’s team. In the first match, the latter logically beat Cachin, 7-5, 6-3. Francisco Cerundolo, ranked 31st in the world, had a scare but also held his own against Otto Virtanen to allow Argentina to equalize before the doubles (6-3, 3-6, 7-6[3]). Diego Schwartzman did not play for Argentina. On Sunday, the Ruusuvuori/Heliovaara pair won a knife-edge match against Gonzalez/Molteni. Emil Ruusuvuori won the singles match against Facundo Bagnis. The Finns will play the Davis Cup group stage for the first time.
Portugal – Czech Republic: 1-3
At 21 years old, Jiri Lehecka, quarter finalist in Melbourne, was the leader of the Czech Republic to go to Portugal. First on court, he adapted well to the Portuguese indoor clay court to beat Nuno Borges in the opening match. In the second match, Joao Sousa was beaten by Tomas Machac. If the Borges/Cabral pair kept the Portuguese alive, Jiri Lehecka finished the job by beating Joao Sousa in the 4th match?
