Daily Times

PARIS: Canada clinched their place in the Davis Cup quarter-finals on Saturday thanks to Felix Auger-Aliassime’s win in singles, while Croatia improved their chances of reaching the last eight with a 3-0 sweep of Argentina. Auger-Aliassime backed up his defeat of new world number one Carlos Alcaraz with a 6-3, 6-4 victory against Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic, although Serbia won the tie 2-1 in Valencia to keep their own hopes alive. Serbia’s Laslo Djere downed Gabriel Diallo 6-2, 6-2 in the opening singles match before Auger-Aliassime’s win guaranteed Canada a top-two finish in Group B. Kecmanovic and Filip Krajinovic led Vasek Pospisil and Alexis Galarneau 2-1 in the first set of the doubles before a knee injury forced Pospisil to retire.

Serbia need South Korea to beat Spain on Sunday in order to pip the hosts to a knockout spot in Malaga in November. The Spaniards swept Serbia before losing 2-1 to Canada, while the Koreans have lost their first two ties. Last year’s runners-up Croatia whitewashed Argentina to boost their prospects of reaching the quarter-finals from Group A, where they have won two of their three ties. Borna Gojo edged Sebastian Baez in three sets before Cincinnati Masters champion Borna Coric got the better of Francisco Cerundolo, 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) in Bologna.

Mate Pavic and Nikola Mektic eased past Maximo Gonzalez and Horacio Zeballos in the doubles. Croatia are now waiting on Sunday’s result between Italy and Sweden to see if they advance. Italy are 2-0 and Sweden are 1-1. The Netherlands wrapped up first place in Group D with a third straight win after defeating the United States 2-1 in Glasgow. Botic van de Zandschulp won his third singles match of the week, his 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) victory over Taylor Fritz securing the tie for the Dutch after Tallon Griekspoor saw off Tommy Paul 7-5, 7-6 (7/3).

Rajeev Ram and Jack Sock claimed the doubles in three tight sets against Wesley Koolhof and Matwe Middelkoop. France defeated Belgium 2-1 to bow out of the competition with a consolation victory. Richard Gasquet downed 268th-ranked Michael Geerts 6-3, 6-3, but Belgium pulled level as David Goffin beat Benjamin Bonzi in three sets. Nicolas Mahut and Arthur Rinderknech defeated Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen in straight sets to win the tie, consigning the Belgians to a third straight loss. Germany host Australia on Sunday in Hamburg to determine the winner of Group C.