Scratch pairing Alexander Zverev and Jan-Lennard Struff put an end to Novak Djokovic’s unbeaten ATP Cup streak on Friday, as Germany knocked out defending champion Serbia to reach the semifinals.
Zverev and Struff combined to hold off Djokovic and doubles world No.56 Nikola Cacic 7-6(4) 5-7 [10-7] to book a showdown with Russia on Saturday.
Struff opened Germany’s account with a three-set triumph over Dusan Lajovic, a late substitute for Filip Krajinovic, before seventh-ranked Zverev came up narrowly short against world No.1 Djokovic, the Serb claiming a 6-7(3) 6-2 7-5 victory.
It prompted a late doubles switch for the Germans from the original duo – two-time French Open champions Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies – which ultimately paid dividends.
“I was quite frustrated with how the singles ended in a way, but it was still a very good match, still a very high level,” Zverev said.
“(It's) still only the second singles match I’ve played this year so I’ve got to give myself some time. We took that team decision, we’ve got two great doubles boys here, Grand Slam champions, but Andy (Mies) is unfortunately not feeling 100 per cent.
“So one of us had to play with Kevin and we thought we played well both of us so Kevin was like ‘OK you guys just go ahead’.”
Djokovic extended his flawless ATP Cup singles record to 8-0 with a narrow victory over Zverev to level the tie after world No.37 Struff scored his second singles win from as many matches this week over Lajovic 3-6 6-3 6-4.
“It was very tight, a very, very close match,” Struff said after clinching both rubbers on Friday.
“We said at the bench we should play every point, always believe in ourselves, it goes so fast. We stuck to the plan and gave everything and (we're) just happy to get the win for Germany.”
Spain needed to win only one of their three matches to qualify for the semifinals and Pablo Carreno Busta delivered at the first opportunity earlier on Friday to set up a semifinal showdown with Italy.
The world No.16, called in after Rafael Nadal opted to rest a stiff back for the second straight tie, saw off Greece's Michail Pervolarakis 6-3 6-4.
It was always going to be a tall ask for 24-year-old Pervolarakis as the world No.462 fell to his fifth straight singles defeat in the ATP Cup.
“It was too early,” Carreno Busta joked about the 10am start.
“With this victory we are in the semifinals so it was very important to us. I tried to be focused on myself to make my game.
“At the beginning of the match I think it was perfect, I played really good. Then he started to play more aggressively - finally 6-3 6-4 we won so I’m happy.”
Whether the 29-year-old, a semifinalist at last year’s US Open, contests a further singles rubber for Spain in this year’s ATP Cup will depend on Nadal’s fitness.
Playing two live singles rubbers was an unexpected bonus.
“It’s so different to playing ATP Tour or the Grand Slams when you represent your country, when you play on a team,” Carreno Busta said.
“I didn’t have a lot of chances because I have two incredible players on my team, so now I try to improve on this opportunity and continue like this.”
Desperate to win their first tie after finishing 0-3 in last year’s competition and following a narrow 2-1 defeat to Australia on Wednesday night, Stefanos Tsitsipas kept Greece’s chances alive with a 7-5 7-5 victory over world No.13 Roberto Bautista Agut.
The world No.5’s victory in an hour and 41 minutes handed the Spaniard his first ATP Cup defeat, having previously gone unbeaten in seven matches.
And the Greeks didn’t have to wait long to land their first tie. Tsitsipas and Markos Kalovelonis lead 1-0 when Carreno Busta, teaming with Marcel Granollers, retired from the match with an abdominal strain.