CANADA 3, SLOVAKIA 2
Venue: NTC Arena, Bratislava, Slovakia
Surface: Clay, Indoors
In September 1997, when Slovakia defeated Canada in the two nations’ only previous Davis Cup meeting, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov had not been born. More than 21 years later, the #NextGenATP duo was responsible for levelling Canada’s head-to-head record against Slovakia, rallying from 1-2 down in Bratislava to earn Davis Cup Finals qualification.
Starting the day at 1-1, Martin Klizan and Filip Polasek came from a set down to beat Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, earning Slovakia the lead. But Shapovalov, who reached his maiden clay-court ATP Masters 1000 semi-final at the Mutua Madrid Open in May 2018 (l. to Zverev), soon sent the tie into a decisive fifth rubber, beating Klizan 7-6(4), 6-4 in one hour and 45 minutes.
“I think with today’s result, the debate as to whether I can play on clay is definitely over,” Shapovalov told DavisCup.com. “The level of tennis was very high today. [I am] very happy to get the win for Canada, we really needed it.”
The 18-year-old Auger-Aliassime then completed Canada’s comeback, defeating Norbert Gombos 6-3, 6-4 in 88 minutes. The victory was Auger-Aliassime’s first in Davis Cup competition, following his debut loss to Klizan on Friday.
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GERMANY 5, HUNGARY 0
Venue: Fraport Arena, Frankfurt, Germany
Surface: Hard, Indoors
After winning both opening singles rubbers, Germany completed a perfect tie in Frankfurt with three victories on Saturday. The home nation clinched victory with Tim Puetz and Jan-Lennard Struff‘s 6-2, 6-3 win over Gabor Borsos and Peter Nagy, before Alexander Zverev and Philipp Kohlschreiber scored their second wins of the tie.
Zverev dropped only three points behind his second serve (7/10) to beat Borsos 6-3, 6-4, while Kohlschreiber edged David Szintai 6-7(5), 6-3, 10-5. Kohlschreiber hit eight aces and earned the only break of the match, in the second set, to triumph after one hour and 38 minutes.
RUSSIA 3, SWITZERLAND 1
Venue: Swiss Tennis Arena, Biel, Switzerland
Surface: Hard, Indoors
The second day of play in Biel started off with a stunner, before order was restored. Fifteen-year-old Jerome Kym of Switzerland stepped in for the doubles rubber alongside Henri Laaksonen to shock Evgeny Donskoy and Andrey Rublev 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(1), keeping the home team’s hopes alive. Laaksonen then led World No. 11 Karen Khachanov by a set and was within two points of victory in the second-set tie-break.
But reigning Rolex Paris Masters champion Khachanov showed his resilience, defeating Laaksonen 6-7(2), 7-6(6), 6-4 to clinch the tie for Russia. Khachanov failed to convert 15 of the 17 break points he earned, but the 22-year-old triumphed after two hours and 41 minutes nonetheless.
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NETHERLANDS 3, CZECH REPUBLIC 1
Ostravar Arena, Ostrava, Czech Republic
Surface: Hard, Indoors
For a moment, it appeared that the Czech Republic was poised to take a 2-1 lead in its tie against the Dutch in Ostrava. But instead, the Netherlands captured the crucial doubles rubber and went on to clinch a 3-1 victory against the three-time Davis Cup champions.
Robin Haase and Jean-Julien Rojer saved three match points in a tense doubles rubber to defeat Lukas Rosol and Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-6(7) in two hours and 31 minutes. The Dutch overcame a 4-6 deficit in the third-set tie-break to earn the win. Haase then returned to the court to beat 17-year-old Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 in one hour and 59 minutes to finish off the tie.
CHILE 3, AUSTRIA 2
Venue: Salzburg Arena/Messezentrum Salzburg, Austria
Surface: Clay, Indoors
Austrian veterans Oliver Marach and Jurgen Melzer gave their country a lead against Chile on Saturday, but it was not enough to overcome the visiting team. Victories from Nicolas Jarry and Christian Garin earned Chile a spot in Madrid.
Marach and Melzer overcame a 1-4 final-set deficit against Marcelo Tomas Barrios Vera and Hans Podlipnik-Castillo to win the match 6-4, 2-6, 7-5, giving Austria a 2-1 advantage in the tie. But World No. 41 Jarry battled past Dennis Novak 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(2), and Christian Garin dismissed Jurij Rodionov 6-2, 6-1 to help Chile move on.
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