Crowd pullers Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios closed in on a mouthwatering Davis Cup final duel on Sunday but France and Belgium cast themselves in the role of party-poopers.
World number two Djokovic and his 2010 Davis Cup champions Serbia team had already booked their place in September’s semi-final against nine-time winners France by beating Spain who were hamstrung by the absence of Rafael Nadal.
But firebrand Kyrgios needed to seal the deal for Australia on Sunday, securing the winning point in the first of the reverse singles to defeat 32-time champions United States.
That gave Australia a semi-final trip to Belgium who also had to wait until Sunday to wrap up a second last-four date in three years by seeing off Italy, the conquerors of defending champions Argentina in the first round.
Kyrgios’s 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 6-4 win over Sam Querrey gave the Australians an unassailable 3-1 in Brisbane.
The controversial 21-year-old Kyrgios revealed that Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt had asked him to be the team’s leader and he had been happy to accept the challenge.
“I’m playing better, but I’m just in a happier place,” said the world number 16. Kyrgios pushed eventual champion Roger Federer to the brink in the semi-finals in Miami last week and has made the final four in three of his last four tournaments.
He said that during this run of good form he had always had one eye on the Davis Cup.
“I’ve been looking forward to this tie for a long time now,” he said.
“I always had one eye on it. When I was in the States I always knew I had to come here and play two big matches.”
Should Kyrgios and Djokovic make the final in September, the Australian will not be cowed by the challenge having seen off the world number two twice this year, in Acapulco and Indian Wells.
Belgium, the runners-up to Great Britain in the 2015 final, made sure of their semi-final place when national number one David Goffin eased past Italian veteran Paolo Lorenzi 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 in Charleroi for a 3-1 lead.
“There’s a lot of time between now and September but Australia will be our focus,” said Goffin who won both his singles at the weekend. “We are going to prepare well for it.”
To nullify the big-serving Kyrgios, Belgium will opt for a claycourt surface if given the opportunity.
Djokovic reckons France, who made their fifth semi-final in eight years by beating Britain in Rouen, will also go for clay, either in Monte Carlo or even Roland Garros where he won his first French Open last year.
The 12-time major winner says all the pressure will be on France who lost the 2010 final to Serbia in Belgrade. France have lost three finals since their last title triumph in 2001.
“They have had so much success down the years,” said Djokovic. “It’s a very important tournament for them but they have come up short recently so they will be very hungry.”
“They are likely to pick red clay. I am relishing the claycourt season as I felt I played really well throughout this Davis Cup week.”

Kyrgios could make top five by year’s end: Courier
Australia’s mercurial tennis star Nick Kyrgios can reach the world’s top five this year if he remains focused, American Davis Cup captain Jim Courier said.
Kyrgios was the difference as Australia battled into the semi-finals of the world teams competition, winning both his singles in straight sets in a 3-2 victory over the United States in Brisbane at the weekend.
A polarising figure with his on-court antics and maverick attitude, he showed great character to fight his way from breaks down to beat John Isner and Sam Querrey.
Courier was impressed enough with the 21-year-old to predict he could improve on his current 15 ranking to top five.
“It’s all in his hands when he’s engaged, focused and concentrating and resilient. He was down a break in three different sets and found a way to win,” Courier told reporters after Sunday’s tie.
“That’s a player who can and should be top five by the end of the year if he carries that through and he’s lucky with good health. It will be exciting to watch, it always is with him one way or the other.”
Four-time Grand Slam champion Courier said he has been closely tracking the rise of Kyrgios.
“I wouldn’t call it scary, I would call it an excellent prospect for tennis,” he said.
“When you see players with so much skill and charisma starting to put it together, it’s exciting for everyone involved in tennis.
“Maybe not for the guys in the locker room who have to play against him, but for everyone else involved in the sport.”
Kyrgios was embraced by his teammates after winning all six sets of tennis in his two matches and said he has become “a bit more of a professional and it’s showing”.
“It’s a relief to actually deliver. The last two months have taken a lot out of me,” said the Australian, who has made the final four in three of his last four tournaments.
“I’m in a happier place, I’m going out and playing the game as it’s meant to be played. I’m not going back to the hotel hating the game.”
His next tournament is in Monte Carlo next week.