DAY 6 of the ATP Cup saw plenty of intensity and pressure to boot, with nations fighting for purchase. Another 177 aces were hit throughout the day, taking the total money raised for the bushfire appeal up to $110,000.

Group A

Serbia 2 defeated Chile 1
Dusan Lajovic (SRB) defeated Nicolas Jarry (CHI) 6-2 7-6
Novak Djokovic (SRB) defeated Cristian Garin (CHI) 6-3 6-3
Cacic/Troicki (SRB) defeated by Jarry/Tabilo (CHI) 3-6 6-7

Serbia had a successful Day 6 on the court with two wins from three and already into the Final 8. Novak Djokovic was just too good for his 33-seed opponent, winning 87 per cent of points on his first serve and collecting a 6-3 6-3 victory. Dusan Lajovic had a harder time with his opposition in Nicolas Jarry, getting away with the first set scot-free but challenged in the second. Jarry put up a fight in hope to go to a tie-breaker but to no avail, going down 6-2 7-6. In the doubles the combination of Nikola Cacic and Viktor Troicki was outplayed by Chile duo.

France 1 defeated by South Africa 2
Gilles Simon (FRA) defeated Lloyd Harris (RSA) 2-6 6-2 6-2
Benoit Paire (FRA) defeated by Kevin Anderson (RSA) 6-2 6-7 6-7
Mahut/Roger-Vasselin (FRA) defeated by Klaasen/Roelofse (RSA) 3-6 4-6

While two three-setters headed up the battle between France and South Africa, the match between Benoit Paire and Kevin Anderson was the kicker going to three sets after a slow start from Anderson before running home in a tight second and third set. Paire had the upper hand early winning the first set with ease and while he did not really falter later he was unable to take control, going down 6-2 6-7 6-7. Frenchman Gilles Simon had a similarly slow start against Lloyd Harris before running out a convincing victor, 2-6 6-2 6-2. A doubles victory to South African duo Raven Klaasen and Ruan Roelofse cemented the tie, commanding the court and not giving France any chance of coming out on top.

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Group B

Spain 3 defeated Japan 0
Roberto Bautista-Agut (ESP) defeated Go Soeda (JPN) 6-2 6-4
Rafael Nadal (ESP) defeated Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) 7-6 6-4
Carreno Busta/Nadal (ESP) defeated McLachlan/Soeda (JPN) 7-6 4-6 [10-6]

Spain continued their unbeaten record with another clean sweep, dominating against Japan. Both Roberto Bautista-Agut and Rafael Nadal were convincing in their respective singles, with Bautista-Agut dominant in the first set against Go Soeda and running home in the second. Nadal was challenged by Yoshihito Nishioka in the first set before cleaning up in the second with seven aces for the match. Nishioka put in a strong effort but to no avail, unable to maintain pressure throughout. Japan put in an impressive effort to take the doubles to a tiebreaker but the Spanish combination of Pablo Carreno Busta and Nadal were just too good, collecting the 7-6 4-6 [10-6] victory.

Georgia 2 defeated Uruguay 1
Alexandre Metreveli (GEO) defeated Franco Roncadelli (URU) 6-2 6-1
Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) defeated Pablo Cuevas (URU) 6-4 1-6 6-4
Bakshi/Metreveli (GEO) defeated by Behar/Cuevas (URU) 2-6 2-6

A doubles victory was not enough for Uruguay to get over the line against Georgia on Day 6, with Georgian duo Alexandre Metreveli and Nikoloz Basilashvili coming away with confident wins. While Basilashvili was solid in the first and third he lacked composure in the second set, paving the way for Uruguan Pablo Cuevas to dominate the set and glimpse victory, before going down 6-4 1-6 6-4. Metreveli ran down Franco Roncadelli with the 19 year old unable to compete with the Georgian, dropping both sets 6-2 6-1.

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Group E

Austria 1 defeated by Poland 2
Dennis Novak (AUT) defeated by Kacper Zuk (POL) 7-5 6-7 3-6
Dominic Thiem (AUT) defeated by Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 6-3 4-6 6-7
Marach/Melzer (AUT) defeated Hurkacz/Kubot (POL) 6-7 6-3 [11-9]

Two three-setters and a tiebreak in the doubles told the story of Austria versus Poland, with neither nation giving an inch. Poland pulled through in the doubles to come away with a win after a tight first and second set, going to an even closer tiebreaker and cementing victory after world number four Dominic Thiem fell to Hubert Hurkacz. Hurkacz was clinical, starting slow but working up momentum to control the match in the second and steady in the third set. Kacper Zuk also took Dennis Novak to three sets, collecting a hotly contested 7-5 6-7 3-7 victory.

Croatia 0 defeated by Argentina 3
Marin Cilic (CRO) defeated by Guido Pella (ARG) 6-7 3-6
Borna Coric (CRO) defeated by Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 2-6 2-6
Dodig/Mektic (CRO) defeated by Gonzalez/Molteni (ARG) 6-3 3-6 [2-10]

Croatia went down in straight sets to Argentina, finding little purchase in the hunt for victory. While Marin Cilic put in a tough effort in the first set against Argentinian Guido Pella, it was not enough to get over the line, going down 6-7 3-6. Diego Schwartzman did away with his opponent in straight sets in one hour and fifteen minutes, running out an impressive victor 2-6 2-6. A doubles victory cemented Argentina’s clean sweep, dropping the first set before speeding through the second and dominating the tiebreaker.