Zverev Powers Germany To 2-0 Lead Against Hungary

GERMANY vs. HUNGARY
Venue: Fraport Arena, Frankfurt, Germany
Surface: Hard, Indoors

Alexander Zverev has enjoyed plenty of success in Germany, winning back-to-back titles in Munich at the BMW Open by FWU. So it was no surprise that he performed well for a home crowd on Friday in the Davis Cup Qualifiers Round. The reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion gave Germany a 2-0 lead over Hungary with an emphatic 6-2, 6-2 win against Peter Nagy. Zverev struck 11 aces and did not face break point to triumph in just 69 minutes.

His veteran compatriot, Philipp Kohlschreiber, did not have his rubber anywhere near as easy. But Kohlschreiber pulled through nonetheless, battling past Zsombor Piros 6-7(6), 7-5, 6-4 in two hours and 39 minutes. The 35-year-old saved seven of the 10 break points he faced in his 17th Davis Cup win.

SLOVAKIA 1, CANADA 1
Venue: NTC Arena, Bratislava, Slovakia
Surface: Clay, Indoors

Denis Shapovalov and Martin Klizan both earned wins for their respective nations to head into Saturday locked at 1-1 in Bratislava, Slovakia. The Canadian, Shapovalov, who reached the Australian Open’s third round last month (l. to Djokovic), gave the visiting side a 1-0 lead with a 6-4, 7-5 victory against Filip Horansky in 49 minutes.

“It was a fun match for me,” Shapovalov told DavisCup.com. “Obviously there was a lot of pressure on me going into the match. I thought the level he played at was Top 50 tennis. If he continues his level like that, he’s going to achieve really good things.”

Home favourite Martin Klizan soon levelled the tie though, beating #NextGenATP Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-5, 6-3. Klizan converted five of 10 break points en route to a one-hour, 36-minute victory.

CZECH REPUBLIC 1, NETHERLANDS 1
Ostravar Arena, Ostrava, Czech Republic
Surface: Hard, Indoors

Jiri Vesely and Robin Haase both emerged victorious in a tight opening day in Ostrava, Czech Republic. Vesely got the home nation off to a winning start, recovering from a set down to beat Tallon Griekspoor 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, before Robin Haase grabbed the second rubber for the visiting Dutch after just 67 minutes. Haase won 90 per cent of first-serve points (27/30) and did not face a break point en route to a 6-2, 6-4 win over Lukas Rosol in 67 minutes.

AUSTRIA 1, CHILE 1
Venue: Salzburg Arena/Messezentrum Salzburg, Austria
Surface: Clay, Indoors

Chilean Nicolas Jarry and Austrian Dennis Novak ensured the tie went into Saturday’s third rubber level at 1-1. Currently ranked No. 41 in the ATP Rankings, Jarry earned the first point in Salzburg, Austria,  edging Jurij Rodionov 7-5, 7-5. But Novak found the perfect response for the home team, levelling the qualifiers round tie with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Christian Garin.