Cilic Victory Leads Croatia Back To Davis Cup World Group

KAZAKHSTAN 3, ARGENTINA 2
Astana, Kazakhstan (Indoor clay)

Kazakhstan pulled off a major upset on Sunday, defeating defending Davis Cup champions Argentina 3-2. Following Saturday’s doubles rubber which put Kazakhstan in control of the tie, Mikhail Kukushkin sealed victory for his team in a tight 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(2) triumph over Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman in front of a boisterous home crowd at Astana’s National Tennis Centre. Kazakhstan handed Argentina a walkover in the tie’s final dead rubber.

Argentina, which was without recent US Open semi-finalist Juan Martin del Potro, will be relegated to Group I of the Americas Zone in 2018.

COLOMBIA 1, CROATIA 3
Bogota, Colombia (Outdoor clay)

After an epic doubles comeback on Saturday alongside Nikola Mektic, Marin Cilic led Croatia back into the Davis Cup World Group with an emphatic 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win over Santiago Giraldo of Colombia. Cilic’s singles victory makes him Croatia’s all-time singles match-wins leader with 24 victories, eclipsing the record previously held by Ivan Ljubicic.

SWITZERLAND 3, BELARUS 2
Biel, Switzerland (Indoor hard)

2014 Davis Cup champions Switzerland secured its place back in the World Group on the back of a spirited effort in their singles rubbers. Trailing Belarus 1-2 going into Sunday’s play, Henri Laaksonen kept Switzerland alive with a 6-2, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 win over Dzmitry Zhyrmont. Veteran Marco Chiudinelli sealed victory for the home team by beating Yaraslav Shyla 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

NETHERLANDS 3, CZECH REPUBLIC 2
The Hague, Netherlands (Indoor clay)

Host country Netherlands pulled of an impressive comeback over three-time Davis Cup champions Czech Republic, relegating the Czechs to the zonal ties for just the second time in their Davis Cup history. Robin Haase, who has recently enjoyed a successful North American summer, levelled the tie with a 6-1, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Jiri Vesely. Former Top 40 player Thiemo de Bakker, now ranked No. 408 in the Emirates ATP Rankings following a lengthy injury layoff, completed the unlikely victory for the Dutch in a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 decision over Lukas Rosol.

PORTUGAL 2, GERMANY 3
Lisbon, Portugal (Outdoor clay)

Led by Jan-Lennard Struff in Sunday’s play, Germany closed out hosts Portugal at the scenic Club de Ténis do Jamor in Lisboa. Struff fought off an inspired performance by Joao Sousa, saving a match point in the fourth set tie-break to win 6-0, 6-7(3), 3-6, 7-6(8), 6-4 in just over three hours.

JAPAN 2, BRAZIL 0
Osaka, Japan (Outdoor hard)

Play was once again delayed in Japan’s home tie against Brazil, with extreme rain washing out any possibility of a Sunday finish. With play to resume Monday, Japan’s two singles victories by Yuichi Sugita and Go Soeda have put the host nation in prime position to earn a berth in the Davis Cup World Group in 2018.

HUNGARY 3, RUSSIA 1
Budapest, Hungary (Outdoor clay)

Marton Fucsovics was a hero once again in Budapest, winning his third rubber of the tie to put Hungary into the World Group over Russia’s team of #NextGenATP players. Fucsovics, ranked 113 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, blasted 34 winners past #NextGenATP Karen Khachanov en route to a 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 triumph.

CANADA 2, INDIA 1
Edmonton, Canada (Indoor hard)

With Canada leading 2-1 courtesy of a hard-fought four-set doubles victory by Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil on Saturday, #NextGenATP Denis Shapovalov looks to close out India as he takes on Ramkumar Ramanathan in the tie’s fourth rubber.