France, Spain advance in Davis Cup

PARIS:

Spain made light of the absence of Carlos Alcaraz as they swept into a winning 3-0 lead in their Davis Cup qualifier against Switzerland in Biel on Sunday.

Spain led 2-0 after Pedro Martinez and Roberto Carballes Baena won singles matches on Saturday. On Sunday, Martinez joined forces with Jaume Munar to carve out a hard-fought 6-4, 7-5 win over Dominic Stricker and Marc-Andrea Huesler in the doubles.

Before the Swiss won a dead rubber in the reverse singles, the Spanish had neither dropped a set nor even faced a break point. They head to Denmark for the second qualifying round in September.

France also booked their place in the next phase as Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Benjamin Bonzi came from behind to beat the Brazilian pair of Rafael Matos and Marcelo Melo 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in Orleans.

Ugo Humbert and Arthur Fils had given France a 2-0 cushion in the singles on Saturday but Herbert and Bonzi were forced to work hard after they dropped the opening set.

The French pair served and returned better in the second to level the match before easing through the decider to book a trip to Croatia in September.

Belgium edged Chile 3-1 in Hasselt.

Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen put the hosts ahead when they beat Tomas Barrios Vera and Nicolas Jarry 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in the doubles.

Zizou Bergs clinched the tie with a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 win over Cristian Garin.

After holding serve in a marathon 10th game in the third set, Bergs galloped round the court in celebration even racing round the net where he collided with Garin, sending the Chilean flying.

After Garin picked himself up and Bergs apologised, the Belgian broke to 15 to seal a tie against Australia in the next round.

In the last undecided tie, Canada fought back against Hungary in Montreal. the visitors had won the opening two singles.

On Sunday, Liam Draxl and Vasek Pospisil beat Peter Fajta and Mate Valkusz 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 in the doubles before Gabriel Diallo crushed Fabian Maroszan 6-1, 6-3 in the first of the reverse singles.

Alexis Galarneau was to face Marton Fucsovics in the deciding rubber.

Jannik Sinner's Italy are the two-time defending champions having won the event in 2023 and last year.

As a result, Italy get a free pass to the finals in Bologna in November.

The defending champions are taking over hosting duties from Malaga.

The 2024 runners-up the Netherlands get a bye to the second round where they will face Argentina.

The seven winners of the second round will join Italy in the eight-team finals.

2nd qualifying round fixtures (Sept 12-14): Netherlands v Argentina, Australia v Belgium, Canada/Hungary v Austria, Japan v Germany, USA v Czech Republic, Spain v Denmark, Croatia v France. AFP

Sinner is the man to beat in men's tennis: Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz said on Sunday that the form of Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner is "crazy", as the Spaniard prepared for his first match since losing in the quarter-finals in Melbourne.

Alcaraz, who is in Rotterdam where he is top seed for the ATP tournament that starts on Monday, was speaking at his first press conference since falling to Novak Djokovic on January 21.

Sinner, who did not drop a set in his last three matches, won the Australian Open in dominant style.

"Jannik is the best right now," Alcaraz said. "He has lost only four or five matches in the past year, so it is crazy. I know people say who's better out of us. They say Jannik is better or some say me. It is all discussion.

"But for me, I think for a tennis player, we have to face Jannik. He is winning everything he is playing. He is focused every time, so I think he is the best. Every tournament he plays, he makes the final or lifts the trophy."

At 21, Alcaraz had a chance to complete the career Grand Slam but lost in four sets to Djokovic.

"I don't feel that it was a missed opportunity against Novak," Alcaraz said. "I really wanted to win the tournament and felt I was able to, but Novak played an unbelievable match.

"Facing Novak in the quarter-finals at a Grand Slam is the worst thing. It was a pretty good match.

I have tried to take the good things about that match and will look ahead now."