Canada punch ticket to quarter-finals

Canada clinched their place in the Davis Cup quarter-finals yesterday as Felix Auger-Aliassime backed up his win over new world number one Carlos Alcaraz with victory against Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic.Auger-Aliassime’s 6-3, 6-4 win in the second singles rubber levelled the tie at one apiece, guaranteeing Canada a top-two finish in Group B and a spot in the final eight in Malaga in November. Serbia’s Laslo Djere downed Gabriel Diallo 6-2, 6-2 in the opening singles match. Kecmanovic and Filip Krajinovic play Vasek Pospisil and Alexis Galarneau in the decisive doubles match.Spain face South Korea in the final tie of the group today. The Spaniards swept Serbia before losing 2-1 to Canada, while the Koreans have lost their first two ties in Valencia.On Friday Alcaraz, the youngest ever men’s world number one at 19 after his US Open triumph, had a bittersweet homecoming as he lost to Auger-Aliassime 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 6-2. Given an ovation by the home fans after his first Grand Slam conquest on Sunday, the Spaniard and his Canadian opponent played out a thrilling second singles rubber, with Canada levelling the tie at 1-1. Alcaraz, from nearby Murcia, had watched from the sidelines on Wednesday as Spain beat Serbia 3-0.After the players had split two fiercely-fought sets, Alcaraz faded, perhaps unsurprisingly after his marathon matches in New York.World number 13 Auger-Aliassime broke straight away and then again to go 4-1 ahead, holding off the Spaniard despite strong encouragement from the crowd. On Friday Germany and Italy locked up places in the Davis Cup last eight, while Britain and France were eliminated.In Bologna, Matteo Berrettini crushed Argentine Sebastian Baez 6-2, 6-3 in 71 minutes and then Jannik Sinner beat Francisco Cerundolo 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 to give Italy a winning 2-0 lead in the tie and ensure they would in the top two places in Group A. Italian pair Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini then lost the doubles to Maximo Gonzalez and Horacio Zeballos in three sets. In Hamburg, Kevin Kraweitz and Tim Puetz gave the hosts a 2-1 victory when they beat Belgian pair Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) in the deciding doubles.Jan-Lennard Struff had given Germany a winning start by beating Zizou Bergs 6-4 7-6 (11-9) but David Goffin fought back from a set down to overcome Oscar Otte 3-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-3.Germany’s victory eliminated France which had lost its opening two ties in Group C.Playing in his home city of Glasgow and in his 50th Davis Cup rubber, Andy Murray could not conjure any magic as he and Joe Salisbury lost a tight doubles decider to Wesley Koolhof and Matwe MiddelkoopThe Dutch pair won 7-6 (7/0), 6-7 (6/8), 6-3 to join the United States with two victories in two ties in Group D. Dan Evans had given the hosts the lead by beating Tallon Griekspoor 6-4, 6-4. Botic Van De Zandschulp responded by crushing world number eight Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-2.ResultsGroup AItaly 2, Argentina 1Matteo Berrettini (ITA) bt Sebastian Baez (ARG) 6-2 6-3Jannik Sinner (ITA) btb Francisco Cerundolo (ARG) 7-5, 1-6, 6-3Maximo Gonzalez/Horacio Zeballos (ARG) bt Simone Bolelli/Fabio Fognini (ITA) 7-5, 2-6, 6-3Group BSpain 1, Canada 2Roberto Bautista (ESP) bt Vasek Pospisil (CAN) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3Felix Auger Aliassime (CAN) bt Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 6-2Felix Auger Aliassime/Vasek Pospisil (CAN) bt Marcel Granollers-Pujol/Pedro Martinez Portero (ESP) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5Group CGermany 2, Belgium 1Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) bt Zizou Bergs (BEL) 6-4, 7-6 (11/9)David Goffin (BEL) bt Oscar Otte (GER) 3-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-3Tim Puetz/Kevin Krawietz (GER) bt Sander Gille/Joran Vliegen 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/5)Group DNetherlands 2, Britain 1Daniel Evans (GBR) bt Tallon Griekspoor (NED) 6-4. 6-4Botic van de Zandschulp (NED) bt Cameron Norrie (GBR) 6-4, 6-2Wesley Koolhof/Matwe Middelkoop (NED) bt Joe Salisbury/Andy Murray (GBR) 7-6 (7/0), 6-7 (6/8), 6-3