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 [September 15, 2023]
The Netherlands surprised two of the highest-ranked Americans
in men's tennis and upset the United States 2-1 Thursday on the
third day of the Davis Cup Finals group stage.
In Group D action in Split, Croatia, Botic van de Zandschulp took
down Tommy Paul 7-6 (2), 6-2 before Tallon Griekspoor outlasted
Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (3) to secure the Dutch win.
Tiafoe and Paul are Nos. 11 and 13 in the ATP world singles
rankings. Tiafoe fired 16 aces and saved seven of nine break points
in defeat.
The Americans avoided a sweep by winning the doubles match; Austin
Krajicek and Rajeev Ram beat Wesley Koolhof and Matwe Middlekoop 6-7
(5), 7-6 (3), 6-3. But the Netherlands now leads Group D with the
only 2-0 record.
The Davis Cup group stages are taking place Tuesday through Sunday
in four cities across Europe. The top two teams in each round-robin
group will advance to the knockout stage in Malaga, Spain, Nov.
21-26.
Also Thursday, defending champion Canada swept Sweden 3-0 in Group A
in Bologna, Italy. Australia rallied past France 2-1 in Group B in
Manchester, England. And the Czech Republic swept South Korea 3-0 in
Group C in Valencia, Spain.
The Canadians got on the board after a three-set opening match that
saw Vasek Pospisil fire 24 aces to beat Sweden's Leo Borg 7-6 (5),
5-7, 6-2. Gabriel Diallo then beat Elias Ymer 6-4, 6-3, and in
doubles, Pospisil teamed with Alexis Galarneau to defeat Filip
Bergevi and Andre Goransson 7-6 (9), 7-6 (3).
Australia's match with France went down to doubles after they split
the two singles matches. France's Adrian Mannarino picked up a 7-6
(4), 6-4 win over Max Purcell, and Australia's Alex de Minaur beat
Ugo Humbert 7-6 (2), 6-3.
In the deciding match, Purcell and Matthew Ebden handled Frenchmen
Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin 7-5, 6-3. Purcell and Ebden
had a 10-1 advantage in aces and saved the only break point they
faced.
Tomas Machac got the Czech sweep started by beating South Korea's
Seongchan Hong 7-6 (8), 4-6, 6-2. Jiri Lehecka eased past Soonwoo
Kwon 6-1, 7-5, and in doubles, Jakub Mensik and Adam Pavlasek
rallied to beat Jisung Nam and MinKyu Song 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4.
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Group stage action continues Friday with four
matchups:
--Italy vs. Chile (Group A)
--Great Britain vs. Switzerland (Group B)
--Spain vs. Serbia (Group C)
--Croatia vs. Finland (Group D)
Group stage standings (overall record, individual match record):
Group A
1. Canada, 2-0, 6-0
2. Chile, 1-0, 3-0
3. Italy, 0-1, 0-3
4. Sweden, 0-2, 0-6
Group B
1. France, 1-1, 4-2
2. Australia, 1-1, 3-3
3. Great Britain, 1-0, 2-1
4. Switzerland, 0-1, 0-3
Group C
1. Czech Republic, 2-0, 6-0
2. Serbia, 1-0, 3-0
3. Spain, 0-1, 0-3
4. South Korea, 0-2, 0-6
Group D
1. Netherlands, 2-0, 4-2
2. United States, 1-1, 3-3
T3. Finland, 0-1, 1-2
T3. Croatia, 0-1, 1-2
--Field Level Media
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