Former champions Serbia, Germany, Russia reach new Davis Cup Finals

Feb 03, 2019

WATCH: Sprinklers turn on at match point in Slovakia

By Niko Vercelletto Jun 21, 2019
WTA Charleston, USA

From 6-1, 2-0 down, Jessica Pegula dethrones Danielle Collins in Charleston

By David Kane Apr 04, 2025
Style Points

This is why Emma Navarro won't ever wear a visor on the tennis court

By Baseline Staff Apr 04, 2025
Hopman Cup

This year's Hopman Cup mixed-team event to be played in Bari in July

By Associated Press Apr 04, 2025
Anti-Doping & Corruption

Five low-ranked French tennis players receive bans for links to a match-fixing syndicate

By Associated Press Apr 04, 2025
Style Points

Naomi Osaka teases more iconic tennis kits: 'Treating every Grand Slam like the Met Gala'

By Baseline Staff Apr 04, 2025
Tennis.com Interview

Patrick McEnroe decries Jannik Sinner suspension, tags Joao Fonseca as future star

By Steve Tignor Apr 04, 2025
The Business of Tennis

Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi will take over as interim ATP CEO after Massimo Calvelli departs

By Associated Press Apr 04, 2025
Pop Culture

What tennis star Alizé Cornet learned from “Traitors” TV stint

By David Kane Apr 04, 2025

Former champions Serbia, Germany, Russia reach new Davis Cup Finals

At the finals, 18 nations will compete in six groups of three teams, with all group winners and the two best second-ranked teams advancing to the quarterfinals.

Published Feb 03, 2019

Former champions Serbia, Germany, Russia reach new Davis Cup Finals

Advertising

Serbia held off a spirited fightback by Uzbekistan to clinch a berth in the finals tournament of the revamped Davis Cup on Saturday.

The 2010 champion seemed in control of the tie with a 2-0 lead after straight-set wins by Dusan Lajovic and Filip Krajinovic. But Uzbekistan leveled at 2-2 and Sanjar Fayziev took the opening set in the deciding fifth rubber. Krajinovic, however, won the next two sets to send Serbia through.

Germany, Russia, and Australia were other former champions to qualify for the finals in Madrid.

All 12 winners of this weekend's qualifiers join six already qualified nations at the Nov. 18-24 event: Defending champion Croatia, 2018 runner-up France, 2018 semifinalists the United States and Spain, as well as wild cards Britain and Argentina.

At the finals, the 18 nations will compete in six groups of three teams, with all group winners and the two best second-ranked teams advancing to the quarterfinals.

Germany routed Hungary 5-0 and third-ranked Alexander Zverev didn't drop a set in his two singles.

Russia's Karen Khachanov ended a Swiss comeback when he rallied to beat Henri Laaksonen 6-7 (2), 7-6 (6), 6-4 for an insurmountable 3-1 lead. Earlier, the hosts, playing without Roger Federer or Stan Wawrinka, won the doubles as they fielded 15-year-old Jerome Kym alongside Laaksonen.

Australia coach Lleyton Hewitt used all five players as they racked up four straight-set wins against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Elsewhere, seven-time champion Sweden failed to qualify for the finals, not winning a sets in losing at Colombia 4-0.

Chile came from 2-1 down to edge Austria 3-2 after Christian Garin won the deciding fifth rubber 6-2, 6-1 against Davis Cup debutant Jurij Rodionov, who replaced Dominic Thiem.

Canada also rallied from 2-1 behind to Slovakia in Bratislava, where Denis Shapovalov beat Martin Klizan 7-6 (4), 6-4 and Felix Auger-Aliassime defeated Norbert Gombos 6-3, 6-4 to turn the tie around. Shapovalov and debutant Auger-Aliassime played shared all five matches for Canada.

Robin Haase won both singles and teamed up with Jean-Julien Royer for victory in the doubles as the Netherlands beat the Czech Republic in Ostrava 3-1.

Also, Belgium won in Brazil 3-1, Kazakhstan beat Portugal 3-1, Italy downed India 3-1, and Japan edged China 3-2 to complete the lineup for the Davis Cup Finals.

_

More AP Tennis: https://www.apnews.com/apf-Tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports