PARIS: Serbia, without Novak Djokovic, proved no match for Slovakia who surged into the group stage of the Davis Cup finals for the first time, with Germany and Finland among five other countries qualifying on Saturday.
Slovak doubles duo Lukas Klein and Igor Zelenay clinched the decisive point with a 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 win over Nikola Caci and Miomir Kecmanovic to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the tie.
Lukas Pokorny made it 4-0 after Laslo Djere retired while trailing in the first set of the reverse singles on indoor clay at Kraljevo.
“Too many years we didn’t qualify but finally we made it,” said Zelenay.
Alex Molcan, who won Friday’s second singles, added: “We knew it was going to be tough against Serbians in their home nation. I’m happy we were able to win two matches today.”
Zelenay and Klein had recovered from a break in the first set, digging deep with 31 winners to see off 2010 champions Serbia.
On Friday, Klein got Slovakia off the mark with a 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 win over Kecmanovic, with Molcan rallying past Dusan Lajovic 4-6, 6-2, 6-0.
In Hungary, three-time winners Germany — missing Alexander Zverev due to illness — clinched the first two of Saturday’s matches for an eventual 3-2 victory.
Doubles pairing Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz’s 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) win over Fabian Marozsan and Mate Valkusz pulled the Germans ahead.
Jan-Lennard Struff sealed their ticket with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Valkusz to advance to September’s group stage featuring 16 teams. Zsombor Piros won a dead fifth rubber against Krawietz.
Finland cruised to a 3-1 win over Portugal, while Brazil qualified for a first finals appearance as Thiago Monteiro defeated Elias Ymer in three sets to cement a 3-1 victory of their own.
The Netherlands won a thrilling contest against Switzerland, Botic van de Zandschulp edging Marc-Andrea Huesler 5-7, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 in the decisive second reverse singles as the Dutch prevailed 3-2 in Groningen.
The Swiss led the tie 2-1 after Huesler and Leandro Riedi won Saturday’s doubles, but Tallon Griekspoor kept the hosts alive by seeing off Riedi in two tie-break sets.
“We had to win and it was up to me to do it,” said Griekspoor. “That is what you have to do as a team leader. I really didn’t feel any tension — I really enjoyed it.”
Canada, the 2022 champions, seized a 3-1 lead over South Korea to clinch victory on Saturday in Montreal when Gabriel Diallo defeated Hong Seong-chan 7-5, 4-6, 6-1.
Two-time winners Croatia are level at 1-1 with Belgium as are Argentina and Kazakhstan.
France hold a 2-0 lead against Taiwan, in one of five qualifiers set to conclude on Sunday. The Czech Republic have a similar advantage over Israel.
Defending champions Italy and last year’s runners-up Australia, as well as Britain and Spain have advanced automatically to the finals.
On Friday, the United States advanced 4-0 with Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram sealing their spot with a doubles win against Ukraine.
Taylor Fritz then eased past Vladyslav Orlov 6-3, 6-4 to complete an American sweep.
“I’m proud of the guys,” said US captain Bob Bryan of the record 32-time winners who have not lifted the trophy since 2007.
Slovakia rout Serbia in Djokovic absence to make Davis Cup finals
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Slovakia rout Serbia in Djokovic absence to make Davis Cup finals
Svitolina downs Gauff, Pegula fights back to beat Anisimova in Dubai tennis semis
- Elina Svitolina secures second consecutive victory over the world number four in a grueling three-hour encounter
DUBAI: Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina kept up her recent winning run against Coco Gauff as she edged the American 6-4 6-7(13) 6-4 on Friday to set up a final showdown with Jessica Pegula at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Pegula shook off a first-set stumble to defeat fellow American Amanda Anisimova 1-6 6-4 6-3 in the other semifinal.
Svitolina secured her second consecutive victory over the world number four in a grueling three-hour encounter, having previously beaten Gauff in straight sets at last month’s Australian Open quarter-finals.
Two-times Grand Slam champion Gauff struggled with double faults throughout the opening set as Svitolina seized control, breaking decisively to claim it 6-4.
Gauff roared back in the second set, displaying her trademark fighting spirit to force a tiebreak. The American saved four match points in a breathtaking 15-13 tiebreak thriller, keeping her hopes alive and electrifying the Dubai crowd.
The momentum swung back and forth in the decider, with the ninth game proving pivotal as it repeatedly went to deuce. Svitolina eventually held her nerve to edge ahead 5-4 before serving out the match to seal a hard-fought victory.
“I’m speechless after that fight. I was really trying to put myself out there, playing as if there was no tomorrow,” Svitolina said.
“It’s really special to be in the final again after a few years. Coco is such a big fighter. I was expecting her to come back in the match. She’s won so many big tournaments. I’m very pleased with the fight and the win,” she added.
Pegula stages comeback against Anisimova
World number six Anisimova took less than half an hour to win the first set before building a 3-1 lead in the second. But Pegula held her nerve and broke Anisimova three times in a row to win the second set, before securing victory in the decider.
“I held on to my serve there in the second set. I just kept telling myself that I had some break points in the first set, even though it was convincingly the other way, and I knew I could get some break points back,” 2024 US Open finalist Pegula said.
Pegula drew her opponent into longer rallies as she plotted her comeback, making Anisimova run back and forth with short slices and won the second set with a powerful backhand, as Anisimova’s hasty return went long.
An exhausted Anisimova found the net while attempting a drop shot, setting up Pegula’s break point to take a decisive 3-1 lead in the third set, clearing the path to her eighth WTA 1000 final.
