Britain’s aspirations to reach the Davis Cup Finals quarterfinals were dashed after a 2-1 defeat to Canada in their final group-stage match. The British team required a 3-0 victory over the Canadians in Manchester, but Dan Evans lost 6-0, 7-5 to Denis Shapovalov in the opening match, quelling Britain’s chances. The match, held in front of 15,700 spectators at the AO Arena, marked the largest crowd for a Davis Cup tie on British soil.
Following Evans’ loss, Felix Auger-Aliassime secured Canada’s triumph by defeating Jack Draper 7-6 (8), 7-5, ensuring Canada’s top position in Group D. Britain managed to win the final doubles match, but it was not enough to advance. Evans suggested this might have been his last Davis Cup appearance, expressing doubts about his future participation.
From Group D, Canada and Argentina advanced, while Finland joined Britain in elimination. Across four cities, teams competed to qualify for the eight-team Finals in Malaga, Spain, scheduled for November. The top two teams from each group will advance.
In Valencia, Spain topped Group B by defeating Australia 2-1, though both teams had already qualified, while France and the Czech Republic were eliminated. In Bologna, the Netherlands secured their Finals spot despite a 2-1 loss to Italy in Group A. Wesley Koolhof and Botic van de Zandschulp’s doubles victory over Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori sealed the Netherlands’ advancement. Brazil missed the opportunity to advance as Belgium had been previously eliminated.
In Group C, the United States and Germany progressed, while Chile defeated Slovakia in a match between already eliminated teams in Zhuhai, China.
Novak Djokovic led Serbia to a 3-1 victory over Greece in a World Group 1 tie in Belgrade, partnering with Hamad Medjedovic for a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win in doubles and winning his singles match against Ioannis Xilas 6-0, 6-1. Meanwhile, former world No. 4 Tomas Berdych will succeed Jaroslav Navratil as the Czech Republic’s Davis Cup captain, following Navratil’s near two-decade tenure that included titles in 2012 and 2013.
