MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Argentina secured a spot in the eight-team Davis Cup finals with a 3-0 victory over Finland on Saturday.
For the first time in five years, the Argentines have made it to the final round, which will be held in November in Malaga, Spain.
They had to fight in Group D, hosted by Manchester, after losing their opening game to 2022 champions Canada. They beat home side Great Britain on Friday and advanced against a determined Finland, last year’s semi-finalist but without their best player.
Tomas Martin Etcheverry defeated Eero Vasa, ranked 703rd in the ranking, 7-6 (5), 6-3. Francisco Cerúndolo then defeated Otto Virtanen 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-0. In doubles, Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni defeated Patrick Kaukovalta and Harri Hellovaara 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-3.
The result forces the British to beat Canada 3-0 on Sunday to advance at the expense of that rival.
In Bologna, Brazil beat Belgium 2-1 after falling to Italy and the Netherlands in Group A. Three-set victories by Joao Fonseca and Thiago Monteiro were followed by a doubles loss that required more than six hours on the indoor hard court.
Brazil has a chance to advance. The Netherlands must lose 3-0 to defending champion Italy on Sunday.
The United States finished first in its group and secured a spot in the finals by beating Germany 2-1.
Both teams came into this tie unbeaten and had already qualified for the finals, but they knew that victory would ensure they were one of the seeded teams in the quarter-finals in Malaga against one of the second-placed teams in the other three groups to be decided in Manchester, Bologna and Valencia this weekend.
The United States quickly secured the privilege by winning both of its singles matches in Zhuhai, China. Reilly Opelka rallied to beat Henri Squire 6-7 (4), 7-6 (9), 6-3 before Brandon Nakashima easily swept Maximilian Marterer 6-4, 6-2.
But the Americans suffered their first loss when Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram fell 6-1, 7-6 (4) to Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz.
France will face the Czech Republic in Valencia after both teams were eliminated.
Four groups are competing in four different cities this week in a bid to qualify for the eight-team Finals in Malaga. The top two teams from each group advance.
