CROATIA will not defend its Davis Cup title after being swept for the second time this tournament, going down 3-0 to Group B toppers, Spain. In other results, Serbia, Germany, Australia and Great Britain all booked a spot in the quarter finals to join Canada, while Russia and Argentina were able to secure runner-up places thanks to favourable results in Round 3.

GROUP A:

SERBIA 2 defeated FRANCE 1

Filip Krajinovic (SRB) defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 7-5 7-6
Novak Djokovic (SRB) defeated Benoit Paire (FRA) 6-3 6-3
P. Herbert/N. Mahut (FRA) defeated J. Tipsarevic/V. Troicki 6-4 6-4

Serbia advanced through to the quarter finals thanks to an upset win by Filip Krajinovic, knocking out last year’s Davis Cup finalists and 2017 winners France in a 2-1 tie. Krajinovic toppled Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-5 7-6 to pave the way for world number two, Novak Djokovic to do his thing by defeating Benoit Paire and secure a spot in the last eight. The French pairing of Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut gained a win in the doubles against Janko Tipsarevic and Viktor Troicki, but it proved to not be enough in the end for France to continue its campaign.

GROUP B:

SPAIN 3 defeated CROATIA 0

Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) defeated Nikola Mektic (CRO) 6-1 6-3
Rafael Nadal (ESP) defeated Borna Gojo (CRO) 6-4 6-3
M. Granollers/R. Nadal (ESP) defeated I. Dodig/M. Pavic (CRO) 6-3 6-4

Spain advanced through to the final eight with a convincing 3-0 trouncing of Croatia. Top 10 ranked players Roberto Bautista Agut and Rafael Nadal never looked like losing in their respective singles, and with the quarter finals sealed, it seemed a little strange to see the world number one Nadal also fronting up in the doubles. He and Marcel Granollers gained a big 6-3 6-4 win over Ivan Dodig and Mate Pavic, while the reigning champions head home from Madrid without winning a match, and indeed, only winning one set in six matches.

GROUP C:

GERMANY 2 defeated CHILE 1

Philipp Kohlscreiber (GER) defeated Nicolas Jarry (CHI) 6-4 6-3
Cristian Garin (CHI) defeated Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) 6-7 7-6 7-6
K. Krawietz/A. Mies (GER) defeated M. Barrios Vera/A. Tabilo (CHI) 7-6 6-3

Germany booked its spot in the final eight with a tougher than expected 2-1 win over Chile. Philipp Kohlscreiber got the ball rolling with a 6-4 6-3 win over Nicolas Jarry, but Cristian Garin threw a spanner in the works by knocking off Jan-Lennard Struff in three tight tiebreakers. The Germans got back on track in the doubles with a straight sets win, but will want to step it up in the quarter finals when they face Great Britain, while Chile was competitive throughout the tournament, but not enough to get wins on the board.

GROUP D:

AUSTRALIA 2 defeated BELGIUM 1

Nick Kyrgios (AUS) defeated Steve Darcis (BEL) 6-2 7-6
Alex de Minaur (AUS) defeated David Goffin (BEL) 6-0 7-6
S. Gille/J. Vliegen (BEL) defeated J. Peers/J. Thompson (AUS) 6-1 6-0

Australia’s X-factor and strength in the singles saw them skip past Belgium in what was a more impressive performance than some would have expected, with Nick Kyrgios and Alex de Minaur both winning in straight sets. Kyrgios knocked off Steve Darcis 6-2 7-6, before de Minaur went even better with a 6-0 7-6 win over top 15 ranked David Goffin. With all the talk about Canada’s choice to forfeit the doubles once through to the quarter finals, Australia played the doubles, but only barely with the Aussies aware the quarter final was less than 18 hours away and the doubles pairing of John Peers and Jordan Thompson won just one game in a match that was just better to be over quickly.

GROUP E:

GREAT BRITAIN 2 defeated KAZAKHSTAN 1

Kyle Edmund (GBR) defeated Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) 6-3 6-3
Alexander Bublik (KAZ) defeated Daniel Evans (GBR) 5-7 6-4 6-1
J. Murray/N. Skupski (GBR) defeated A. Bublik/M. Kukushkin (KAZ) 6-1 6-4

Great Britain earned a place in the quarter finals with a 2-1 win over Kazakhstan, but not without Alexander Bublik throwing in an upset. Kyle Edmund had knocked off Mikhail Kukushkin fairly comfortably, 6-3 6-3, before Bublik made Great Britain earn it with a come-from-behind three sets win over Daniel Evans. Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski then finished off the opposition duo with a 6-1 6-4 victory showing why having specialist doubles players is important in the format.

GROUP F:

UNITED STATES 2 defeated ITALY 1

Fabio Fognini (ITA) defeated Reilly Opelka (USA) 6-4 6-7 6-3
Taylor Fritz (USA) defeated Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 5-7 7-6 6-2
S. Querrey/J. Sock (USA) defeated S. Bolelli/F. Fognini (ITA) 6-7 7-6 6-4

In the final game of Round 3 in the most contested group, many opposition sides were sighing a breath of relief when Fabio Fognini defeated Reilly Opelka in three sets. If the United States had swept Italy, then they would have made the quarter finals on the back of gaining 12 free games from Canada’s forfeit, but by Fognini getting up, it meant the USA did not win enough individual matches to qualify. Taylor Fritz continued Matteo Berrettini‘s four losses from five games against top 20 players this month with a 5-7 7-6 6-2 win over the eighth ranked Italian, before Sam Querrey and Jack Sock took out the double in three tight sets.

The quarter finals of the Davis Cup are:

Serbia vs. Russia*
Australia vs. Canada+
Great Britain vs. Germany
Argentina* vs. Spain

*Earned a runner-up place as the two highest runner-ups from the group stage.

+ Played early this morning, will be covered in quarter finals wrap.