Argentina reaches Davis Cup Final after tense win over Finland
Brazil's Thiago Monteiro reacts as he play Belgium's Zizou Bergs during their Davis Cup tennis match at the Unipol Arena, in Bologna, Italy, Sept. 14, 2024. Credit: AP/Massimo Paolone
MANCHESTER, England — Argentina clinched a berth in the eight-team Davis Cup Final with a tense 3-0 win over Finland on Saturday.
The Argentines have reached the quarterfinals in Malaga, Spain, in November for the first time in five years.
They had to battle in Group D in Manchester after an opening loss to 2022 champion Canada. They beat host Britain on Friday and overcame a gritty Finland, a semifinalist last year but without its best player.
Tomas Martin Etcheverry beat 703rd-ranked Eero Vasa 7-6 (5), 6-3, then Francisco Cerundolo outlasted Otto Virtanen 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-0. Argentina needed the doubles, and Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni delivered against Patrick Kaukovalta and Harri Heliovaara 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-3.
The result forces Britain to have to beat Canada 3-0 on Sunday to advance at Canada's expense.
In Bologna, Brazil beat Belgium 2-1 after losses to Italy and the Netherlands in Group A.
Three-set wins by Joao Fonseca and Thiago Monteiro followed by a doubles loss took more than six hours to complete on the indoor hard-court.
Brazil's Joao Fonseca reacts after winning a point as he plays Belgium's Raphael Collignon during their Davis Cup tennis match at the Unipol Arena, Bologna, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. Credit: AP/Massimo Paolone
Brazil has a shot at advancing; the Netherlands must lose to unbeaten defending champion Italy 3-0 on Sunday.
In Zhuhai, the United States earned a seeding in the Final by beating Germany 2-1 and topping Group C unbeaten.
Both teams were already qualified for the Final but the U.S. grabbed a seeding awarded to the group winners.
Reilly Opelka saved two match points to beat Henri Squire 6-7 (4), 7-6 (9), 6-3 and Brandon Nakashima eased past Maximilian Marterer 6-4, 6-2. The Americans dropped their first point in nine matches when Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram lost to Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz 6-1, 7-6 (4).
Belgium's Zizou Bergs plays Brazil's Thiago Monteiro during their Davis Cup tennis match at the Unipol Arena, in Bologna, Italy, Sept. 14, 2024. Credit: AP/Massimo Paolone
“We have a good chance against any team there (in Malaga),” Nakashima said. “There’s a bunch of talented Americans playing really well right now.”
In Group B in Spain, a tie between teams already out of contention saw 10-time champion France beat three-time champion the Czech Republic 2-1 sealed by a doubles win.
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