THE quarter-final stage of the ATP Cup started on Thursday with Australia and Russia progressing to the final four.

Australia 2 defeated Great Britain 1
Nick Kyrgios (AUS) defeated Cameron Norrie (GBR) 6-2 6-2
Daniel Evans (GBR) defeated Alex De Minaur (AUS) 7-6 4-6 7-6
Kyrigos/ De Minaur (AUS) defeated Murray/ Salisbury (GBR) 3-6 6-3 [18-16]

Australia defeated Great Britain 2-1 in a dramatic tie that could have gone either way. It started with a clinical performance by Nick Kyrgios against Cameron Norrie, breaking serve five times on route to a 6-2 6-2 victory. Daniel Evans came out on top against Alex De Minaur in an epic three-setter, winning 7-6 4-6 7-6 in just under three and a half hours. Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt then made a major selection decision, choosing to play his two singles superstars in the doubles rather than doubles specialists John Peers and Chris Guccione. Playing Kyrgios was a no brainer, but choosing the tired De Minaur (directly after his three-hour contest) over Peers was a huge risk. The match finished in a thrilling tiebreak that went back and forth until Jamie Murray, on match point, missed what should have been a simple backhand winner. The Australians came up clutch to close it out 18-16, sparking jubilant scenes in front of their home fans.

Russia 2 defeated Argentina 0
Karen Khachanov (RUS) defeated Guido Pella (ARG) 6-2 7-6
Daniil Medvedev (RUS) defeated Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 6-4 4-6 6-3
Khachanov/ Medvedev (RUS) defeated Gonzalez/ Molteni (ARG) 7-6 6-4

Russia progressed to the semi-finals with a comfortable 3-0 sweep of Argentina. Karen Khachanov won 85 per cent of points on his first serve in a 6-2 7-6 win over Guido Pella. World number five Daniil Medvedev then defeated Diego Schwartzman in a fiery three-set clash. After the two exchanged words, Medvedev was handed a point penalty for hitting the umpires chair but regrouped to win 6-4 4-6 6-3. In the doubles, the Russians teamed up to win 7-6 6-4 over Maximo Gonzalez and Andrés Molteni.