By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday February 3, 2024
Team Slovakia stunned last year's semifinalists on the red clay in Kraljevo.
Photo Source: Davis Cup
Slovakia booked a spot in the Davis Cup Finals for the first time in their history, taking out Novak Djokovic-less Serbia 4-0 this weekend at the Sport Hall in Kraljevo, Serbia.
Lukas Klein, the who gave Alexander Zverev a run for his money in the a five-setter in the second round at this year’s Australian Open, and Alex Molcan, swept Day 1 singles rubbers before Klein and Igo Zelenay clinched victory for Slovakia with a 7-6(4), 6-3 win over Miomir Kecmanovic and Nikola Cacic in the doubles rubber.
Slovakia had suffered four consecutive losses in Davis Cup qualifying ties prior to this season.
Klein needed just 90 minutes to get past Kecmanovic, and broke the World No.41's serve four times, winning 7-6(2), 6-2.
“I’m very happy we managed to win as a team, that is the important part,” World No.142 Klein said afterwards. “It doesn’t matter who won the three points. I am happy we qualified.”
122nd-ranked Molcan topped cagey Dusan Lajovic 4-6, 6-2, 6-0.
There were 12 Davis Cup qualifying ties taking place around the globe this weekend. Here are some other results from ties that have already been decided:
Germany d Hungary 3-2: Jan-Lennard Struff clinched victory for Germany, defeating Mate Valkusz, who was subbing in for Fabian Marozsan, 6-3, 6-2 in 45 minutes.
Netherlands d Switzerland 3-2: Tallon Griekspoor and Botic Van de Zandschup rallied the Dutch from 2-1 down in Groningen.
USA d. Ukraine 4-0: Chris Eubanks and Sebastian Korda helped power Team USA to a sweep over Ukraine in a tie that was played in Lithuania due to the war.
Finland d Portugal 3-1: Finland will return to Malaga for a second straight year after a dominant run against Portugal that saw them will the first six sets of the tie to clinch.
Brazil d. Sweden 3-1: Thiago Monteiro clinched Brazil’s first trip to the Davis Cup finals with his second win of the weekend, over Elias Ymer.