Russia have booked their place alongside Australia and Serbia in the ATP Cup quarter-finals after completing a clean sweep of their pool matches.
US Open runner-up Daniil Medvedev confirmed Russia’s ticket to Sydney’s knockout stages with a 6-3 7-6 (8-6) win over Norway’s Casper Ruud in Tuesday’s opening Group D tie in Perth.
Karen Khachanov earlier routed Victor Durasovic 6-2 6-1 to give Russia a 1-0 lead at RAC Arena.
In Sydney, Great Britain kept their finals hopes alive with a 3-0 drubbing of Moldova.
British No.1 Dan Evans outclassed Radu Albot 6-2 6-2 to clinch the tie after Cameron Norrie beat Alexander Cozbinov by the same scoreline in the day’s opening singles rubber.
A 6-2 6-3 doubles victory for Jamie Murray and Joe Salisbury over Albot and Cozbinov completed the whitewash, leaving the Brits in the box seat to qualify for the quarters.
Britain could yet still top Group C and face Australia in Thursday’s first quarter-final at Sydney Olympic Park.
“It would be a lot of fun if that were the case,” said British captain Tim Henman.
“Obviously I have a lot of history with (Australian captain) Lleyton (Hewitt) and everyone knows the team well.
“It would be a big challenge, but we would love that opportunity, because it would mean we have come through our group.”
But Henman’s men are more likely to advance as one of the two best pool runners-up at the season-opening six-group competition.
Unbeaten in their first two ties, Bulgaria remain favourites to top Group C and can secure a quarter-final spot with success over Belgium on Tuesday night.
Australia, already assured of top of Group F, wrap up their pool campaign on Tuesday night in Brisbane.
Hewitt opted to rest undefeated singles spearhead Alex de Minaur against out-of-contention Greece.
In Tuesday’s opening tie in Brisbane, Canada eliminated Germany with a 2-1 victory that completed a disastrous Australian Open preparation for Alexander Zverev.
Zverev coughed up another seven double-faults in a 6-2 6-2 loss to Denis Shapovalov, taking the world No.7’s tally for his winless week to 31 doubles in 31 service games.
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, Canada can still scrape into the quarter-finals as one of the best two group runners-up, but Germany (1-2) have no hope.