Daniil Medvedev has added to the star power heading to Sydney for the ATP Cup finals after sealing Russia’s place in the last eight of the inaugural $22 million teams’ event.
Russia joined Australia and the Novak Djokovic-led Serbia in the quarter-finals after completing a clean sweep of their pool matches with a 3-0 win over Norway that ultimately decided Group D.
Runner-up to Rafael Nadal at last season’s US Open amid a stunning run of six straight hard-court finals, Medvedev clinched victory for Russia with a 6-3 7-6 (8-6) win over Casper Ruud in Tuesday’s opening singles match in Perth.
Karen Khachanov had routed Victor Durasovic 6-2 6-1 to give Russia a 1-0 lead at RAC Arena.
The fifth-ranked Medvedev will join seven-times Australian Open champion Djokovic, Lleyton Hewitt’s undefeated Australian team and almost certainly world No.1 Rafael Nadal in Sydney for the knockout stages starting on Thursday.
Only an improbable 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Japan on Wednesday can stop Nadal and his Spanish Davis Cup-winning teammates from making the quarters.
Australia will play Great Britain for a spot in the final four after the Brits swept past Moldova 3-0 without dropping a set and then cashed in on Bulgaria’s 2-1 loss to Belgium to top Group C.
Inspired by David Goffin’s 4-6 6-2 6-2 comeback win over Grigor Dimitrov, Belgium rallied from a match and a set down to take the tie in a Sydney midnight thriller.
The loss was costly for the previously unbeaten Bulgarians, who fell to third in their pool behind Belgium and out of contention for a quarter-final spot as one of the best two group runners-up.
British No.1 Dan Evans outclassed Radu Albot 6-2 6-2 to clinch their tie after Cameron Norrie downed Alexander Cozbinov by the same scoreline.
Australia, who had already been assured of topping Group F, wrapped up their round-robin campaign in style with an entertaining win over Greece.
Hewitt rested undefeated singles spearhead Alex de Minaur, but John Millman stepped up to edge out Michail Pervolarakis 4-6 6-1 7-6 (7-1) before Nick Kyrgios upstaged world No.6 Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6 (9-7) 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-5) in a pulsating contest.
In the day’s opening tie in Brisbane, Canada eliminated Germany with a 2-1 victory.
Alexander Zverev coughed up another seven double-faults in a 6-2 6-2 loss to Denis Shapovalov after Jan-Lennard Struff had put Germany up 1-0 with a 6-1 6-4 defeat of Felix Auger-Aliassime.
But Zverev’s loss and a 6-3 7-6 (7-4) doubles win for Shapovalov and Auger-Aliassime over Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies sealed Germany’s fate.
With a 2-1 record in pool play, Canada can still scrape into the quarter-finals as one of the best two group runners-up, but Germany (1-2) have no hope.
