Mayer Sends Argentina To Quarters, Djokovic Forces A Fifth

POLAND 2, ARGENTINA 3
Venue: Ergo Arena, Gdansk, POL (hard – indoor)

Leonardo Mayer handed Argentina an unassailable 3-1 advantage in their first-round tie against Poland, rallying past Michal Przysiezny 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 6-2, 6-3 in Sunday’s reverse singles. The World No. 41 extended his Davis Cup win streak to 11 straight matches.

Poland was bidding to become the first nation to reach the quarter-finals in their World Group debut since 2011, but Argentina had other ideas, as Mayer fired 26 aces and turned aside both break points faced for the win after two hours and 33 minutes. The Argentines will look to return to the semis for the second straight year when the South American nation travels to Italy for their quarter-final tie.

In the fifth “dead” rubber, Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz saved five match points to defeat Renzo Olivo 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-4.

SERBIA 2, KAZAKHSTAN 2
Venue: Pionir Hall, Belgrade, SRB (hard – indoor)

Novak Djokovic brought Serbia back from the brink, leveling the tie at 2-2 after rallying past Mikhail Kukushkin 6-7(6), 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Djokovic fought through apparent injury to prevail despite hitting 94 unforced errors.

The World No. 1 extended his win streak in completed Davis Cup singles matches to 17 straight, improving to 3-1 in five-setters in the competition. His lone five-set defeat came 11 years ago to Olivier Rochus of Belgium.

The match finished in just under five hours and featured 19 aces from Djokovic, who converted on seven of 16 break chances. He struck 19 backhand winners.

Serbia, champion in 2010, will look to return to the quarter-finals for the second straight year as Viktor Troicki battles Aleksandr Nedovyesov in a live fifth rubber. 

ITALY 5, SWITZERLAND 0
Venue: Adriatic Arena, Pesaro, ITA (clay – indoor)

Italy completed a whitewash of Switzerland behind reverse singles wins for Marco Cecchinato and Paolo Lorenzi on Sunday. Cecchinato defeated Adrien Bossel 6-3, 7-5 and Lorenzi downed Antoine Bellier 6-3, 6-2. Italy will host Argentina in the quarter-finals.