Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/1119853
China, P.R. in Guangzhou with their Davis Cup hopes intact after Taro Daniel navigated a tense decisive fifth rubber against Li Zhe, winning 6-3 6-7(4) 6-3. Yoshihito Nishioka had initiated the Japanese comeback by defeating teenager Wu Yibing after Zhang Ze and Gong Mao-Xin had fired China, P.R. into the lead with doubles joy against Ben McLachlan and Yasutaka Uchiyama. In Astana, Mikhail Kukushkin and Alexander Bublik sealed Kazakhstan's place in the Finals as the hosts beat Portugal, extending their record of home wins to 11 from their last 12 ties. Kazakh No. 1 Kukushkin returned after an emphatic victory over Pedro Sousa on the Saturday to seal victory for his side in the fourth rubber on Sunday, defeating Joao Sousa, again without dropping a set. A hectic doubles, which saw Robin Haase and Jean-Julien Rojer save three match points before downing Jiri Vesely and Lukas Rosol, proved to be the catalyst for Netherlands as they overcame Czech Republic 3-1 in Ostrava. That doubles triumph handed Netherlands a 2-1 advantage and it was left to Haase to finish proceedings and settle a topsy-turvy clash by dispatching Jiri Lehecka 6-4 2-6 6-3. Russia conjured their maiden victory on Swiss soil to book their place at the Finals. Karen Khachanov emerged as the protagonist of the affair from a Russian perspective as he was instrumental in his side's 3-1 success. After Daniil Medvedev had dismissed Henri Laaksonen in the opening singles rubber in Biel, Khachanov overpowered Marc-Andrea Huesler and then returned after Switzerland had claimed the doubles to outmanoeuvre Laaksonen. Uzbekistan's hopes of staging a comeback from 2-0 down for their first time in their Davis Cup history were dashed by Serbia's Filip Krajinovic in the pivotal fifth rubber in Tashkent. With the tie locked at 2-2, Sanjar Fayziev came within a set of clinching a stunning fightback for the hosts, only for Krajinovic to rally and post a 4-6 6-3 6-0 victory which sealed Serbia's passage to Madrid. While the Spanish capital beckons for the victors in the Qualifiers, the majority of the defeated sides, dependent upon Nations Ranking, will face Group I ties in September to determine who contests the 2020 Qualifiers. ■ D A V I S C U P M A D R I D Finals Schedule Monday 18 November EVENING SESSION Centre Court Croatia v Russia Stadium 2 Canada v Italy Stadium 3 Belgium v Colombia Tuesday 19 November MORNING SESSION Centre Court Argentina v Chile Stadium 2 France v Japan Stadium 3 Kazakhstan v Netherlands EVENING SESSION Centre Court Spain v Russia Stadium 2 USA v Canada Stadium 3 Australia v Colombia Wednesday 20 November MORNING SESSION Centre Court Argentina v Germany Stadium 2 Serbia v Japan Stadium 3 Great Britain v Netherlands EVENING SESSION Centre Court Croatia v Spain Stadium 2 USA v Italy Stadium 3 Belgium v Australia Thursday 21 November MORNING SESSION Centre Court France v Serbia Stadium 2 Germany v Chile Stadium 3 Great Britain v Kazakhstan EVENING SESSION Centre Court Quarterfinal: Winner Group D v Winner Group F Friday 22 November MORNING SESSION Centre Court Quarterfinal: Winner Group A v Runner Up* EVENING SESSION Centre Court Quarterfinal: Winner Group B v Runner Up* Stadium 2 Quarterfinal: Winner Group E v Winner Group C Saturday 23 November MORNING SESSION Centre Court Semifinal (top half) EVENING SESSIONS Centre Court Semifinal (bottom half) Sunday 24 November TIME TBC Centre Court Final * to be determined by draw ITFWorld // SPRING 2019 21 GERMANY 5-0 HUNGARY AUSTRIA 2-3 CHILE BRAZIL 1-3 BELGIUM CZECH REPUBLIC 1-3 NETHERLANDS CHINA, P.R. 2-3 JAPAN COLOMBIA 4-0 SWEDEN