ZHUHAI, China (AP) — The United States secured its place in the last eight of the Davis Cup Finals after beating Slovakia 3-0 on Friday, a result that also sent unbeaten Germany through from the same group.
Spain joined them when four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz beat France’s Ugo Humbert 6-3, 6-3. Veteran Roberto Bautista Agut won the first singles against Arthur Fils 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 in Valencia.
Spain’s victory also put Australia through from Group B.
In Zhuhai, America’s Mackenzie McDonald converted four of his six break points to beat Slovakia’s Lukas Klein 6-4, 6-3, and Davis Cup debutant Brandon Nakashima had eight aces in a 6-3, 6-3 win against Jozef Kovalik.
The U.S. also won the doubles: Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram, who lost the men’s doubles final at the Paris Olympics last month, rallied to beat Klein and Norbert Gombos 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4), 10-1, winning 15 of the last 16 points.
Italy kept its defense alive by beating Belgium 2-1 indoors in Bologna.
Matteo Berrettini edged past Alexander Blockx 3-6, 6-2, 7-5, not breaking the teenage, 253rd-ranked Blockx in the last set until the last game.
Zizou Bergs upset Italy No. 1 Flavio Cobolli in the second singles, 6-0 in the third, to even the tie. In the deciding doubles, Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori, who surprisingly lost to Brazil on Wednesday, came though in straight sets on Friday.
After two ties each in Group A, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands will play for two spots on Sunday, when the Italians face the Dutch, and Belgium meets winless Brazil.
Britain missed the chance to qualify after losing both singles in a 2-1 defeat to Argentina, leaving Group D delicately poised heading into Saturday.
Tomás Martín Etcheverry won 6-2, 7-5 against Dan Evans, who last month won the longest match at the U.S. Open since tiebreakers were introduced in 1970.
Francisco Cerundolo followed by winning against surprise U.S. Open semifinalist Jack Draper 7-6 (4), 7-5.
Britain won the doubles but the tie was already over.
Four groups are playing in four cities this week to qualify for the eight-team Finals in Malaga, Spain, in November. The top two in each four-team group advance. __
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