PARIS: Germany reached the Davis Cup Final 8 with a 4-0 rout of Japan, France secured a convincing win over Croatia and Argentina qualified after knocking out last year’s finalists Netherlands in their second-round qualifying tie on Saturday.

Austria also qualified with a dramatic 3-2 win over Hung­ary, while Belgium and Denm­ark took commanding 2-0 leads over Australia and Spain.

After Germany took a 2-0 lead on Friday in Tokyo, their victory was completed when Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz saved three set points in the second set to beat Japan’s Yos­uke Watanuki and Takeru Yuz­uki 6-3, 7-6(7/4) in the doubles. Justin Engel then beat Rei Sakamoto 6-3, 6-7(2/7), 10-7.

Last year’s semi-finalists Germany are the first team to enter the Final 8 through the qualifiers, joining hosts Italy in the culminating round set for November in Bologna.

Argentina also qualified when Andres Molteni and Horacio Zeballos beat the Dutch duo of Sander Arends and Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 7-5 to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in Groningen.

Hungary, who had lost both their matches to Austria on Friday, fought back with back-to-back wins in Debrecen.

Fabian Marozsan and Zsom­bor Piros edged the Austrian pair of Alexander Erler and Lucas Miedler 7-6(7/4), 7-6(7/2) before Piros beat Luk­as Neumayer in a singles match to bring Hungary level at 2-2.

But Austria won the tie in the fifth match, with Jurij Rodionov earning a dominant 6-2, 6-1 victory over Marton Fucsovics.

France also secured their place in the Final 8 as Corentin Moutet beat Marin Cilic, securing a 3-1 victory over Croatia in Osijek.

Last year’s quarter-finalists Spain are on the verge of elimination as Denmark took a 2-0 lead over them in Marbella, with world number 11 Holger Rune beating Pablo Carreno Busta and Elmer Moller defeating Jaume Munar.

At Delray Beach, Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram gave the United States a 2-1 lead with a 7-6, 5-7, 6-4 doubles victory over Jakub Mensik and Tomas Machac before Czech Republic’s Jiri Lehecka upset world number five Taylor Fritz 6-4 3-6 6-4 in singles.

Mensik then completed the comeback with a comprehensive 6-1, 6-4 win over Frances Tiafoe, clinching the tie 3-2 for the Czech Republic to send them into the Final 8.

Australia’s Alex de Minaur lost to Belgium’s Raphael Collignon 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 in Sydney, and Zizou Bergs fought through cramps to beat Jordan Thompson in straight sets to consolidate the visitors’ 2-0 lead.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2025