Germany, France, Argentina, Austria Close In on Davis Cup Finals

AFP/APP

Paris: Germany, France, Argentina, and Austria all moved within touching distance of the Davis Cup finals on Friday, taking 2-0 leads in their second-round qualifiers.

The seven winners from this weekend’s best-of-five ties will advance to November’s “Final 8” in Bologna, hosted by defending champions Italy.

In Tokyo, former three-time winners Germany struck first as Jan-Lennard Struff outlasted Yoshihito Nishioka 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4 before Yannick Hanfmann beat Shintaro Mochizuki 6-3, 6-3.

In Groningen, Argentina secured a commanding lead after Tomas Martin Etcheverry overcame Jesper De Jong 6-4, 6-4, and Francisco Cerundolo defeated Botic van de Zandschulp 7-6 (7/4), 6-1.

“It’s tough to swallow,” said De Jong, as the Netherlands now rely on Saturday’s doubles to stay in contention.

France also moved closer in Osijek, Croatia, where Davis Cup debutant Corentin Moutet battled past Dino Prizmic 6-4, 5-7, 6-1 in a gruelling three-hour, 17-minute clash. Arthur Rinderknech then eased past veteran Marin Cilic 6-2, 6-4.

“It’s an ideal scenario. We obviously prefer to finish at 2-0, even if I know full well that the hardest part is tomorrow,” said France captain Paul-Henri Mathieu.

In Debrecen, Austria’s Jurij Rodionov stunned 59th-ranked Fabian Marozsan 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 7-5 before Lukas Neumayer edged Marton Fucsovics 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (9/7).

“It was a crazy match. It could have gone either way. I kept fighting, I keep grinding and believing in myself,” Rodionov said.

Meanwhile, in Delray Beach, Florida, record 32-time winners the United States were tied 1-1 with the Czech Republic. Jiri Lehecka defeated Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 6-2 in a rain-delayed opener, but world number five Taylor Fritz levelled for the hosts with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Jakub Mensik.

Elsewhere, ties beginning Saturday will see Australia face Belgium in Sydney, bidding for a fourth straight finals appearance, while Denmark take on six-time champions Spain in Marbella.