Davis Cup: Australia in sight of Final 8 after sweeping Czechia

Australia are on the brink of qualifying for the Final 8 of the 2024 Davis Cup after defeating Czechia 3-0 in their second tie of the week on Thursday in Valencia.

Thanasi Kokkinakis earned another impressive win in the singles, taking down Jakub Mensik 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-3.

“To step up and get two points on the board is massive,” Kokkinakis said.

“Big up to Lleyton Hewitt for trusting me and giving me the run.”

The in-form Alexei Popyrin then took to the court against Tomas Machac, but the match only lasted a matter of minutes before Machac was forced to retired injured.

The Czech had suffered a calf and Achilles issue on Wednesday against Carlos Alcaraz. However, with Jiri Lehecka down sick, Machac had no choice but to try and play against Popyrin.

Czech captain Jaroslav Navratil said he was “thinking all last night who we are putting in singles”.

“It was not easy,” he explained.

“We have two players, one injured and cramping since last night, the other with a fever of 38 degrees, so what can I do?”

Olympic gold medallist Mathew Ebden then combined with US Open champion Max Purcell for a straight-sets doubles victory, with Mensik fronting up again alongside Adam Pavlasek.

“It was for sure for me my worst day as captain,” Navratil continued.

“We tried our best.

“Jakub (Mensik), for 19 years old, it’s not easy.

“He finished nearly midnight last night, and then today he has to play singles and doubles.

“He did everything he could on the court.”

The victory means Australia, having beaten France 2-1 in their first tie of the week, are now all but assured of a spot in the Final 8 in Malaga later this year.

If Spain win their upcoming tie against France, the Aussies could already have their quarter-final berth confirmed before they take on Alcaraz and company this Sunday.

Top tennis betting sites have the Spaniards slated as -188.68 favourites to defeat their next-door neighbours.

Germany remain perfect in Group C

In other Davis Cup action, Germany have maintained their perfect record across their two opening ties, sweeping Chile in emphatic fashion on Thursday in Zhuhai.

The Germans won all three matches in straight sets, with Yannick Hanfmann defeating Alejandro Tabilo 7-5, 6-4, Maximilian Marterer ousting Tomas Barrios Vera 6-1, 6-3, and Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz beating Barrios Vera and Matias Soto 6-1, 6-3.

This means Germany are assured of a top-two spot in Group C, with just one match against the United States remaining this week.

Canada and the Netherlands also won on Thursday.

Felix Auger-Aliassime led the Canadians to a 3-0 win against Finland in Manchester, while the Dutch edged out Brazil 2-1 in Bologna.

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